Astronomy Picture of the Day -- M74: The Perfect Spiral

NASA ^ | August 11, 2013 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: If not perfect, then this spiral galaxy is at least one of the most photogenic. An island universe of about 100 billion stars, 32 million light-years away toward the constellation Pisces, M74 presents a gorgeous face-on view. Classified as an Sc galaxy, the grand design of M74's graceful spiral arms are traced by bright blue star clusters and dark cosmic dust lanes. Constructed from image data recorded in 2003 and 2005, this sharp composite is from the Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys. Spanning about 30,000 light-years across the face of M74, it includes exposures recording emission from hydrogen atoms, highlighting the reddish glow of the galaxy's large star-forming regions. Recently, many astronomers are tracking a bright supernova that has been seen in M74.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage (STScI / AURA)-ESA / Hubble Collaboration; Acknowledgment: R. Chandar (Univ. Toledo) and J. Miller (Univ. Michigan)]

[SunkenCiv]

Highlights of the 2013 Perseids Meteor Shower

The Big One

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[BigCinBigD]

Any who looks at that and understands what they are seeing and thinks we are alone. Is an idiot.

[left that other site]

Magnificent!

Thanks again for faithfully posting these. :-)

[Red Badger]

Another 'perfect spiral'..............

[Conan the Librarian]

Supernova in this galaxy a few weeks ago. It’s faded now.

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/Supernova-Erupts-in-Messier-74-217327171.html

[null and void]

The idiots will show up in force soon, to tell the rest of use we’re going to Hell, and congratulate each other...

[fieldmarshaldj]

Fantastic photograph of American culture.