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c12-1
Hubble · Caldwell 12 · NASA, ESA, and L. Ho (Peking University); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

Fireworks Galaxy

Galaxy in Cygnus · 22 million light-years

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TypeGalaxy
ConstellationCygnus
Right ascension20h 34m 52s
Declination+60° 09′
Object distance22 million light-years
Apparent magnitude9.1
Apparent size11.4′ (arc-minutes)
Approx. true diameter72,955 light-years across
Also known asC12 · NGC 6946
Caldwell 12, popularly known as the Fireworks Galaxy, is a galaxy (NGC 6946) in the constellation Cygnus — a distant island of stars far beyond the Milky Way. It appears as number 12 in the Caldwell catalogue, Sir Patrick Moore's 1995 list of 109 bright deep-sky objects for amateur astronomers. It spans roughly 11.4 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 9.1, it shows up in a small backyard telescope.

Although it appears about 11.4′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 72,955 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.

Observing Fireworks Galaxy

Fireworks Galaxy lies in the constellation Cygnus and is best placed in the evening sky around July. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It sits far enough north to be circumpolar from mid-northern latitudes, and never rises for most of the southern hemisphere. A small backyard telescope will show it; binoculars may hint at it under dark skies. Note that the listed magnitude is spread across the whole object — diffuse galaxies and nebulae are often harder to see than the number alone suggests, so dark, moonless skies help a great deal.

See Fireworks Galaxy in Universe Finder

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Sources

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