Messier 74 (also known as NGC 628) is a face-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces. The galaxy contains two clearly-defined spiral arms and is therefore used as an archetypal example of a Grand Design Spiral Galaxy.  M74 was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780. Méchain then communicated his discovery to Charles Messier, who listed the galaxy in his own catalog.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_74

ABOUT THE IMAGE

DATE/TIME:  The evening of October 17th, 2014.

CAMERA:  Canon XSI, 450Da

TELESCOPE:  Celestron C9.25" SCT @ F/10

ISO SETTING:  800

EXPOSURES:  44

EXPOSURE LENGTH:  300sec.

TOTAL EXPOSURE LENGTH:  3hrs, 40min.

SUBTRACTIONS:  16 darkframes, 20 flatframes, 16 darflat frames and 40 bias frames.

CAPTURE SOFTWARE:  MaximDL

STACKING SOFTWARE:  Deep Sky Stacker

PROCESSING:  Photoshop CS3