M77, also designated NGC 1068, is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Cetus.  It lies about 47 million light-years from Earth, and has an approximate diameter of 170,000 light-years.  It was discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1780 and was later included in Charles Messier's catalogue of comet-like objects.  

Note in this image, the inclusion of galaxies NGC 1055, at magnitude 10.2, (top center) and NGC 1072, at magnitude 14, (very small, at about 9 0'clock from M77.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_77

ABOUT THE IMAGE

DATE/TIME:  The evening of October 4th and morning of the 5th, 2008.

CAMERA:  Canon XSI, 450D

TELESCOPE:  Orion 100mm ED @ F/9

ISO SETTING:  800

EXPOSURES:  8

EXPOSURE LENGTH:  10min.

TOTAL EXPOSURE LENGTH:  1hr., 20min.

SUBTRACTIONS:  10 dark frames and 10 bias frames.

CAPTURE SOFTWARE:  MaximDL

STACKING SOFTWARE:  Deep Sky Stacker

PROCESSING:  Photoshop CS3