| Name | Fireworks Galaxy |
| Designation(s) | Arp 29, NGC 6946, C12 |
| Object Type(s) | Galaxy |
| Relevant Catalog(s) | All (Chron), Arp, Caldwell, NGC |
| Arp Category | Spiral galaxies with one heavy arm |
| Obs. Lat/Long | 42° 17', 073° 57' |
| Constellation | Cepheus |
| Date and Time Observed | 2022-11-26 09:38:00 |
| Instrument | Evolution 9.25 SCT with F6.3 reducer |
| Camera | ASI294mc-Pro |
| Image Details | Up is 232.6 degrees E of N (SW). Comparison rotated so N is right. Total integration time was 43m. Exposure 10s@375g, UV/IR Cut Filter, captured in SharpCap. Darks and Flats subtracted. |
| Description | As is often the case with Arp, there's some ambiguity about which is the "heavy" arm, though I believe it's the one towards the bottom of the frame. My Evolution telescope had a mirror diagonal in the image train; the image was flipped in the comparison to Arp's capture. This was literally the first, successful capture of a faint Galaxy in my EAA career. There had been a painful learning curve leading to this point: I was required to capture both darks and flat frames. It was also my second attempt; two days earlier I had captured the galaxy but the focus was horribly off. This capture was my personal, "I love this!" moment. I had no notion of Arp at the time, but in retrospect, this experience started me on the path to the Arp Challenge because this is when I learned that challenging targets are the most fun. I've added to the gallery a "bonus" image of Arp 29 and the open cluster NGC 6939, imaged with my 600mm refractor in August 2023. |
| Related Observations | C12 (2) |
| Catalog Links | |
