The Fireworks Galaxy NGC 6946: 25 million light years away | Hubble

The Fireworks Galaxy NGC 6946: 25 million light years away | Hubble

In the last century alone, galaxy NGC 6946 has experienced 10 observed supernovae, earning its nickname as the Fireworks Galaxy. In comparison, our Milky Way averages just 1-2 supernova events per century. This NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope image shows the stars, spiral arms, and stellar environments of NGC 6946 in phenomenal detail. 

We are able to marvel at NGC 6946 as it is a face-on galaxy. It means that we see the galaxy “facing” us, rather than seeing it from the side (known as edge-on). The Fireworks Galaxy is further classified as an intermediate spiral galaxy and as a starburst galaxy. The former means the structure of NGC 6946 sits between a full spiral and a barred spiral galaxy, with only a slight bar in its center, and the latter means it has an exceptionally high rate of star formation.

The galaxy resides 25.2 million light-years away, along the border of the northern constellations of Cepheus and Cygnus (The Swan).

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, A. Leroy, K. S. Long

Release Date: Jan. 4, 2021

#NASA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #Galaxy #NGC6946 #SpiralGalaxy #StarburstGalaxy #Supernovae #Cygnus #Constellation #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #Infrared #ESA #Europe #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education