Full-resolution version:  1600 x 1200

Object Type: Irregular galaxy (IB(s)m IV-V)
Constellation: Sagittarius
Magnitude: 9.3
Size: 15.5' x 13.5'

NGC 6822 was discovered by E. E. Barnard in 1884, hence its common name of Barnard's Galaxy. It is one of the closest galaxies to our Milky Way at a distance of 1.6 million light-years, and is similar in structure and composition to the Large Magellanic Cloud, with numerous H II regions.

Equipment: Meade 14" LX200R/STL-11000M/Astrodon LRGB filters/Paramount ME
F-ratio: f/9.5
Exposures: LRGB:  L 12 x 10 minutes, binned 2x2: R 12 x 10 minutes: G 12 x 10 minutes: B 12 x 10 minutes: RGB binned 3x3
Date: August 14-15, 2009
Location: Landers, California, USA
Technical Notes: Individual exposures were dithered using CCDAutoPilot2 and then sigma combined. The RGB image was created using Registar 1.0.  A Gaussian Blur of 1 pixel was applied to the dim portions of the luminance and RGB images.