NGC6946 - The Fireworks Galaxy
Sat Aug 19 2023
The Fireworks Galaxy earns its nickname: this face-on spiral has hosted an unusually large number of supernovae in recent decades, far more than a typical galaxy. Its spiral arms are dotted with bright pink knots of star formation. I captured this after two straight months of clouds finally broke over Kentucky.
About this object
- Type
- Galaxy
- Constellation
- Cygnus (the Swan)
- Apparent magnitude
- 9.1
- Apparent size
- 11.4′ × 10.8′
- Catalogue designations
- NGC 6946
Acquisition
- Antlia V-Pro Luminance 31 mm: 767 × 30s (6h 23m 30s)
- Antlia V-Pro Red 31 mm: 119 × 1m (1h 59m)
- Antlia V-Pro Green 31 mm: 119 × 1m (1h 59m)
- Antlia V-Pro Blue 31 mm: 79 × 1m (1h 19m)
- Total integration: 11h 40m 30s
Equipment
- Telescope / Lens: Celestron C8
- Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM Pro
- Mount: Celestron CGEM II
- Filters: Antlia V-Pro Blue 31 mm, Antlia V-Pro Green 31 mm, Antlia V-Pro Luminance 31 mm, Antlia V-Pro Red 31 mm
- Guiding scope: SVBony SV106 60mm Guide Scope
- Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC
- Accessories: Celestron 0.63X SCT Reducer (94175), ZWO EFW 8 x 1.25″ / 31mm
- Software: Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight
Astrophotography by David Joyce, AstroDavido.