NGC6946 , AlBroxton

NGC6946

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Description

NGC6946, (also known as the Fireworks Galaxy, Arp 29, and Caldwell 12), is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 22 million light-years away, on the border between the constellations Cepheus and Cygnus. It was discovered by William Herschel on September 9, 1798. NGC6946 is highly obscured by interstellar matter of the Milky Way galaxy, as it is quite close to the galactic plane. Nine supernovae (SN 1917A, SN 1939C, SN 1948B, SN 1968D, SN 1969P, SN 1980K, SN 2002hh, SN 2004et, and SN 2008S) have been observed in NGC6946.

Observation Notes : This face-on spiral galaxy has a low surface brightness and therefore responds to the atmosphere more than edge-on systems. For that reason I have called this object "pretty faint" on a night I rated 5/10 and then called it "pretty bright" on a night that was 8/10 in the mountains of Northern Arizona. In any case it is pretty large, somewhat elongated and has a bright, almost stellar nucleus. Even at the best of times I have never seen spiral structure in this object. There is a very dim extension that forms a 'V' shape.

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  • NGC6946 , AlBroxton
    Original
  • Final
    NGC6946 , AlBroxton
    B

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NGC6946 , AlBroxton

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Allen Broxton
Galaxies