The Slow Evolution Of M74. For a Messier object, M74 sure has low surface brightness, making it the most difficult Messier object for amateur astronomers to observe. That means, on the one hand, that it can take an agonizingly long time to accumulate enough data to produce an adequate image. On the other hand, if you enjoy the process of collecting data, and you enjoy tracking your progress as much as I do on these projects, there's still some satisfaction to be had in watching the details of this gorgeous grand design spiral galaxy materialize before your eyes. Below, I trace the evolution of this image over several nights in the late summer and early fall. And below that, I show how my latest fares against my first attempt to image this target.
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