About the Object

Name:	M 74, Messier 74, NGC 628
Distance:	32 million light years
Constellation:	Pisces
Category:	Galaxies MIRI Picture of the Month

Coordinates

Position (RA):	1 36 41.85
Position (Dec):	15° 46' 49.55"
Field of view:	3.37 x 2.09 arcminutes
Orientation:	North is 110.1° left of vertical

View in ESASky:

View in WorldWide Telescope:

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Optical (DSS2)
Infrared (2MASS)

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Colours & filters

Band	Wavelength	Telescope
Optical B	435 nm	Hubble Space Telescope ACS
Optical V	555 nm	Hubble Space Telescope ACS
Infrared	7.7 μm	James Webb Space Telescope MIRI
Infrared	10 μm	James Webb Space Telescope MIRI
Optical I	814 nm	Hubble Space Telescope ACS
Infrared	11 μm	James Webb Space Telescope MIRI
Optical NII	658 nm	Hubble Space Telescope ACS
Infrared	21 μm	James Webb Space Telescope MIRI

The Phantom Galaxy Across the Spectrum

M74 shines at its brightest in this combined optical/mid-infrared image, featuring data from both the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.

With Hubble’s venerable Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Webb’s powerful Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) capturing a range of wavelengths, this new image has remarkable depth. The red colours mark dust threaded through the arms of the galaxy, lighter oranges being areas of hotter dust. The young stars throughout the arms and the nuclear core are picked out in blue. Heavier, older stars towards the galaxy’s centre are shown in cyan and green, projecting a spooky glow from the core of the Phantom Galaxy. Bubbles of star formation are also visible in pink across the arms. Such a variety of galactic features is rare to see in a single image.

Scientists combine data from telescopes operating across the electromagnetic spectrum to truly understand astronomical objects. In this way, data from Hubble and Webb compliment each other to provide a comprehensive view of the spectacular M74 galaxy.