Blair MacDonald, taken from Marion Bridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Fireworks Galaxy (NGC 6946) straddles the border of constellations Cepheus and Cygnus at a distance of around 20 million light-years. It earns its name for being a prolific producer of supernovae — roughly once a decade over the past century. This shot also captures foreground wisps of gas and dust that lie in the Milky Way. The imager took 4 hours 50 minutes of exposure with a 5-inch f/7 scope and a one-shot color camera.