Fireworks Galaxy. Artwork of the Fireworks Galaxy (NGC 6946), drawn by the 19th-century Irish astronomer William Parsons (1800-1867), the third Earl o

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Fireworks Galaxy. Artwork of the Fireworks Galaxy (NGC 6946), drawn by the 19th-century Irish astronomer William Parsons (1800-1867), the third Earl of Rosse. At the time of this observation, this object was considered to be a nebula within our galaxy. When more powerful telescopes were used in the early 20th century, it was realised that such 'spiral nebulae' contained stars and were much more distant objects. NGC 6946 is 10 million light years distant, in the constellation of Cepheus and Cygnus.

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Size: 4193px × 4143px
Photo credit: © ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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