Fireworks Galaxy
Also known as NGC 6946
Fireworks Galaxy is a galaxy in the constellation Cygnus, about 19.21 million light-years from Earth.
Spiral with frequent supernovae
Facts
| Type | Galaxy (shape Sc) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Position (J2000) | 20h 34m 52s, +60° 09′ |
| Distance | 19.21 million light-years (its light set off about 19.21 million years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 9.05 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 11.5′ × 10.7′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | No filter (It shines in starlight of every colour, so a nebula filter would only dim it; a dark sky helps more.) |
| Studied in | 2,682 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Fireworks Galaxy is highest in the sky at midnight in July. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 50° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 80°. To see it you need a small telescope.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Cygnus
- Cooling Tower Cluster (M29)
- Cygnus A
- Cygnus X-1
- Egg Nebula
- M39 (NGC 7092)
- North America Nebula
- Pelican Nebula
- Veil Nebula
Everything in Cygnus · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits