74 Galatea (gal'-a-tee'-a) is a large Main belt asteroid. Its surface is very dark in color.

Galatea was found by the prolific comet discoverer Ernst Tempel on August 29, 1862 in Marseilles, France. It was his third asteroid discovery. It is named after one of the two Galateas in Greek mythology.

A stellar occultation by Galatea was observed on September 8, 1987.

The name Galatea has also been given to one of Neptune's satellites.