NGC6939 & NGC6946

Higher resolution image

Image information:

Date: 06/18/2009
Equipment: SBIG ST2000XM with CFW10 and Astrodon I series Gen II LRGB filter set through WO ZS105ED telescope on Losmandy GM8 mount. WO ZS105ED working at f5.6 with WO 0.8X reducer/flattener.
Image type: LRGB
Exposure time: 10X10min Luminance binned 1X1, RG&B 10X5min each binned 2X2
Comment:  

Object information:

Object designations:
  • NGC6939
  • NGC6946; Fireworks Galaxy
Object type:
  • NGC6939 - Open cluster
  • NGC6946 - Spiral galaxy
Object size:
  • NGC6939 - 8'
  • NGC6946 - 11'X10'
Constellation: Cepheus / Cygnus border
Comment:

NGC6946 is big spiral galaxy rather close to us. It is only 10 million light years away, with diameter of some 40 kly. The galaxy is much dimmer, and its light is redder then it would be normal because of thick clouds of obscuring foreground interstellar dust. NGC6946 is very active galaxy noted for high rate of star birth and death. In last hundred years at least 9 supernovae were detected in it. That galaxy is sometimes called Fireworks Galaxy.

NGC6939 is an open cluster consisting of some 80 stars. It is 5800 ly distant. Its light is also dimmed by obscuring clouds of interstellar dust.

Related images:

List of related images:

NGC6939 & NGC6946, OSC, Moravian C1+ 12000A through APM/LZOS 105/650 APO telescope

 

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