The image above is a reprocessing of the data in 2023. This applies new processes and better technique to get much more out of the data.

The image above is a reprocessing of the image down below. By processing the stars separately from the galaxy it is possible to keep the stars under control given the much stronger stretch needed for the galaxy. Unfortunately, the star removal algorithm isn’t perfect but it does a reasonable job on this one.

The Fireworks Galaxy, NGC 6949, gets its name because ten supernovae have been observed there in the last 100 years. That is a rate far in excess of what most galaxies see. The average is about one per century per galaxy. We have not observed one in our own galaxy in around 400 years.

The galaxy is about 25 million light years away in the constellation Cepheus. It’s about half the size of our own Milky Way.

This is a bit over 26 hours of data. For all the technical details see the astrobin.