The Phantom Galaxy is officially known as Messier 74 (M74). This galaxy is a grand design spiral galaxy. It is located about 32 million light-years away in the constellation Pisces. Often called the “perfect spiral galaxy,” M74 has stunning, well-defined spiral arms. These arms showcase its symmetry and beauty. This makes it a popular target for both professional astronomers and astrophotographers.

The below image is 2.5 hours of exposures from an 80mm Apochromatic triplet refractor telescope at 480mm focal length. Mounted on ZWO AM5 and captured with SVBony405cc one shot color camera.

M74 spans roughly 95,000 light-years across. It is close to the size of our own Milky Way. The galaxy contains an estimated 100 billion stars. Its structure includes bright regions of star formation. These regions are known as H II regions. In these areas, hydrogen gas clouds are actively forming new stars. This activity contributes to the galaxy’s blue-tinged arms, which contrast with the warmer, yellowish core.

The Phantom Galaxy was discovered by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain in 1780. Charles Messier later cataloged it. The galaxy is relatively faint, with an apparent magnitude of 9.4, making it challenging to observe without a telescope. However, astronomers find it valuable to study the dynamics of spiral galaxies. They also analyze star formation in exquisite detail.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Hubble Space Telescope recently provided new observations. They have revealed intricate structures within M74’s arms and core. These findings help scientists learn more about how galaxies evolve. They also help understand how galaxies maintain their shapes over billions of years. M74 also harbors a supermassive black hole at its center. This black hole plays a key role in regulating star formation within the galaxy.

The Phantom Galaxy has a stunning form and scientific value. This makes it one of the most admired and studied galaxies in the night sky. It offers insights into the beauty and complexity of the universe.