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> Spiral galaxy M74 in Pisces

Spiral galaxy M74 in Pisces

author: R.Jay GaBany/Novapix

reference: a-gax06-28004

Image Size 300 DPI: 27 * 17 cm

M74 is located roughly 30 million light-years away in the direction of the constellation Pisces, the Fish. It is the dominant member of a small group of about half a dozen galaxies, the M74 galaxy group. In its entirety, it is estimated that M74 is home to about 100 billion stars, making it slightly smaller than our Milky Way. Its perfectly symmetrical spiral arms emanate from the central nucleus and are dotted with clusters of young blue stars and glowing pink regions of ionized hydrogen (hydrogen atoms that have lost their electrons). These regions of star formation show an excess of light at ultraviolet wavelengths. Tracing along the spiral arms are winding dust lanes that also begin very near the galaxy's nucleus and follow along the length of the spiral arms.

Keywords for this photo:

2005 - ASTRONOMY - GALAXY - M74 - NGC 628 - PISCES - Sc - SPIRAL GALAXY - STAR -