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Astronomy Picture of the Day - M74: A Grand Design Spiral
NASA ^ | 30 Aug, 2026 | Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage (STScI / AURA)- ESA / Hubble Collaboration Acknowle

Posted on 08/30/2026 1:12:54 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: If not the most grand, 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 archival images, this sharp composite is from the Hubble Space Telescope. 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.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa

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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 08/30/2026 1:12:54 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 08/30/2026 1:13:50 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 31R1O; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

3 posted on 08/30/2026 1:15:35 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Wow.


4 posted on 08/30/2026 1:16:14 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: MtnClimber

One of my screen-savers. It’ll take you away from here if you stare at it.


5 posted on 08/30/2026 1:18:09 PM PDT by ComputerGuy
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To: ComputerGuy
One of my screen-savers. It’ll take you away from here if you stare at it.

What is on the other side?

6 posted on 08/30/2026 1:25:24 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber
What is on the other side?

I'll let you know as soon as I get back.
7 posted on 08/30/2026 1:33:54 PM PDT by ComputerGuy
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To: MtnClimber
What is on the other side?

That is the fun part.

The Hubble Space Telescope can see a certain distance into the Universe. The new James Webb Space Telescope can see further. The Webb Telescope detects in the infrared. Webb is detecting things that "should not be there" according to the current theories. New, updated theories will result.

What is out there beyond the limits of the Webb Telescope?

We shall "see."

8 posted on 08/30/2026 1:35:38 PM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try. )
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To: MtnClimber

Now ponder that this photo shows
what it looked like 32 million years ago.


9 posted on 08/30/2026 1:35:48 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th ( I am obsessed with not being obsessed with anything.)
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To: MtnClimber

Very nice!


10 posted on 08/30/2026 1:35:58 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: MtnClimber

Looks like a Nautilus shell.


11 posted on 08/30/2026 1:50:53 PM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: Jamestown1630

Same designer for both.


12 posted on 08/30/2026 2:31:09 PM PDT by Pamlico (Support President Trump and oppose traitors at every opportunity)
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To: Pamlico

:-)


13 posted on 08/30/2026 3:23:40 PM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: MtnClimber

A beautiful spiral!😀


14 posted on 08/30/2026 4:32:54 PM PDT by telescope115 (Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
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To: MtnClimber

WOW, think of all the solar systems that are in that. Like a bunch of planets ....


15 posted on 08/30/2026 6:38:43 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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