This galaxy is just outside our local group of galaxies (10 million
ly). It is known as the Fireworks Galaxy because more supernovas have
been discovered in this galaxy than any other. This is due to a phase
of rapid star formation - hence the red emission nebula in the spiral
arms. The line of sight to this galaxy goes through our galaxies spiral
arm which obscures the galaxy by several magnitudes. If this was not
the case it would be one of the brightest galaxies in the sky.
For more information, try: http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/ngc/n6946.html
Date
Luminance: 18th July 2006, RGB: 20th July 2006
Telescope
250mm F4.8 Newtonian Reflector with coma corrector
