Post by glactus on Nov 6, 2008 17:03:48 GMT
Mesier 74
Messier 74 (NGC 628) is a face-on spiral galaxy in the constellation of Pisces. The galaxy contains two clearly-defined spiral arms and is therefore used as an archetypal example of a Grand Design Spiral Galaxy.
Messier 74 is located 1.5° east-northeast of Eta Piscium. It may be very difficult to see unless the sky is dark and clear, and in locations affected by light pollution. The galaxy may be best viewed when using averted vision when the eyes are fully dark adapted. Distance from Earth is 30 million light years and magnitude is 10.0
In March 22, 2005, it was announced that the Chandra X-ray Observatory had observed an ultraluminous X-ray source in M74, radiating more X-ray power than a neutron star in periodic intervals of around two hours.
It has an estimated mass of around 10,000 Suns. This is an indicator of an intermediate-mass uncommon class of black holes, somewhere in between in size of stellar black holes and the massive black holes theorized to reside in the center of many galaxies.
Because of this, they are believed to not form from single supernovae, but possibly from a number of lesser stellar black holes in a star cluster.
Credits: M74 is a NASA image
