Observer's guide
About Fireworks Galaxy
Fireworks Galaxy (C12) is catalogued as a galaxy in Cepheus. Its J2000 position is RA 20:34:53, Dec +60:09:14, corresponding to 308.718 degrees RA and 60.1537 degrees Dec. The local catalogue places it about 18,000,000 light-years away. Its referenced angular extent is approximately 11.48 by 10.72 arcminutes.
Observing tips
This is rated as a very hard target at magnitude 9.6. It is associated with summer observing, with midnight placement typically strongest around July. From 52 degrees north its theoretical meridian altitude is about 81.8 degrees; local horizons and the live altitude chart determine the practical window.
Because it is faint, use a larger aperture where possible, avoid bright Moon conditions, and use averted vision.
What to expect
The SIMBAD classification for the matched source is H2G. SIMBAD records the morphology as Sc. A published radial velocity value is 45 km/s. The SIMBAD record currently connects it to 2674 bibliographic references.
At roughly 11.5 arcminutes across, it benefits from a narrower field and adequate image scale. Use the listed 11.48 by 10.72 arcminute extent to check framing, and treat catalogue magnitude as integrated brightness rather than a direct measure of visual contrast.