M74

Messier 74, abbreviated M74 and also known as NGC 628, is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Pisces. It is a nearly face-on grand-design spiral, notable for its well-defined, symmetric spiral arms and bright star-forming regions. The galaxy lies at a distance of about 32 million light-years (approximately 10 megaparsecs) from Earth and presents an apparent size of roughly 9.5 by 9.5 arcminutes, making it a prominent object for amateur and professional observers.

M74 is classified as a non-barred spiral galaxy (type SA(s)c), meaning it lacks a central bar structure and displays relatively loosely wound arms emanating from the nucleus. Multiwavelength studies reveal active star formation along the spiral arms, with numerous H II regions and young stellar clusters contributing to its luminous appearance. Its face-on orientation provides a favorable view for examining spiral structure and the distribution of star-forming regions across the disk.

The galaxy was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780 and included in the Messier catalog by Charles Messier shortly thereafter. M74 has been the subject of various studies aiming to understand spiral density waves and star formation in grand-design spirals. In 2002, a bright Type Ic supernova, SN 2002ap, occurred in M74, attracting substantial observational attention and contributing data on the late stages of massive stellar evolution in external galaxies. M74 remains a frequently observed target for reconnaissance of spiral morphology and stellar nurseries beyond the Milky Way.