NGC 6946, known as the "Fireworks Galaxy," is a face-on spiral galaxy located on the border of the constellations Cepheus and Cygnus, about 25 million light-years away. It's famous for its high rate of supernovae, earning it the nickname, and is a prime target for studying star formation and massive stars due to its active starburst regions and numerous stellar explosions.
Type: Intermediate spiral galaxy (SAB(rs)cd).
Location: On the border of Cepheus and Cygnus, within the Virgo Supercluster.
Distance: Approximately 25 million light-years from Earth.
Nickname: "Fireworks Galaxy" due to the frequent supernovae observed within it.
Discovery: Discovered by William Herschel in 1798.
Supernovae: Has had at least ten supernovae observed in the last century, making it a key subject for supernova research.
Star Formation: Shows active star formation, with bright blue star clusters and dust lanes visible in images.
Structure: Appears face-on, allowing for a clear view of its spiral arms, though it's partially obscured by Milky Way dust.
Size: Larger than the Milky Way in diameter, though it contains about half as many stars. Image Credit ESA/Hubble & NASA, A. Leroy, K. S. Long
Comments