NGC 6946
Posted in Astronomy at 19:18 on 14 January 2012
Astronomy Picture of the Day for 9/1/12, this is spiral galaxy NGC 6946 face on.
The yellow colours are old stars, younger star clusters are blue and the reddish ones are stars that are forming in the spiral arms. The galaxy is 40,000 light years across. That’s an astonishing 40,000,000,000,000,000 kilometres (give or take.)
NGC 6946 is known as the Fireworks Galaxy and it does have the aspect of a catherine wheel.
Tags: Astronomy, Astronomy Picture of the Day, Fireworks Galaxy, NGC 6946
bigrab
15 January 2012 at 12:10
That’s a cracker Jack. And now I’m thinking of Leslie Crowther for some reason!
jackdeighton
15 January 2012 at 17:44
“And now Iâm thinking of Leslie Crowther for some reason!”
You’re showing both our ages there, Rab!