Messier 74

74 final

Object:   M74 (NGC 628) Date:               2019 February 3
Type:              Spiral galaxy
Constellation:           Pisces Time & altitude:          19.45 UT   38º
Catalogue data: Seeing (5 high):                               3/5
            R.A:                1h 37m Transparency (5 high):                   4/5
            Dec:                15º 47 Telescope:     0.5m f4.1  Dob.
            Magnitude     9.2 Eyepiece       8mm Ethos                x260
            Size (mins)    10×9 Filters:            Lumicon Deep Sky / None

Notes:

A dim and difficult object. It’s likely a face-on spiral. The low-surface-brightness means it presents more like a typical 13th magnitude galaxy. There are details to be seen but everything bar the core is very low contrast. The core looks round without the filter but with the filter it is obviously oval with the major axis aligned more or less NS. From this oval core there are two ‘arms’ extending out into the halo. The halo itself was visible around the core to the N,S and E but I could not detect it on the W side. Two brighter (but still very faint) knots are on the N side.