Spiral galaxy · Cygnus

NGC 6946 Fireworks Galaxy

Also known as: C12

mag 9.111′ across

About

NGC 6946, the Fireworks Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy of magnitude 9.1 in Cygnus, about 11′ across.

NGC 6946 is in the constellation Cygnus.
Best evenings: around mid-September it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 20° S.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesNot visible to the naked eye.
Binoculars (10×50)A faint smudge, only from a dark site.
Telescope (6–8 inch)A faint oval glow with a brighter middle — no spiral arms without a camera.

For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.

Designations	NGC 6946, C12, PGC 65001, UGC 11597
Type	Spiral galaxy (SABc)
Magnitude	9.1The smaller the number, the brighter.
Apparent size	11′ × 11′the full Moon is 31′ across
Surface brightness	23.7 mag/arcsec²Average over its disc, in the blue band: the lower the number, the easier it is to see.
Constellation	Cygnus
Right ascension (J2000)	20h 34m 52.3s
Declination (J2000)	+60° 09′ 14″