Stirling Astronomical Society Gallery

The Fireworks Galaxy (NGC 6946) is a beautiful face-on spiral galaxy on the border between Cepheus and Cygnus. This image also includes the open cluster NGC 6939 (upper right), a relatively old cluster with a number of red giant stars which make a nice contrast to the hotter blue stars still on the main sequence. The galaxy is also designated Caldwell 12. Imaged using a ZWO Seestar S30.