Spiral galaxy in Cepheus
Between this galaxy and us is a dense region of the Milky Way, so the foreground is filled with many stars along with random patches of dim nebulosity. Despite this, the Fireworks Galaxy is not hard to observe, and it makes a good photographic target.
The Fireworks Galaxy gets its nickname from the fact that at least 10 supernovae have exploded in this galaxy in about a century, a much larger number than is typical for galaxies. The galaxy's appearance is also reminiscent of fireworks, with its multiple curving arms that are filled with many reddish patches of glowing gases.
For observers with wide-field scopes, NGC 6946 forms a nice contrasting pair with the open cluster NGC 6939, which is about 2/3 degree to the northwest.
| Magnitude | 9.0 |
| Apparent Size | 11' x 11' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 25 million |
| Right Ascension | 20:32.9 |
| Declination | +60 09 |
| Field of View | 29' x 22' |
Image details: Exposure times of 21 minutes each of luminance, red, green, and blue, taken with an SBIG STF-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/6.
October 2020