An incredible photograph of a galaxy around 22 million light years away from Earth was captured in the skies above Oxfordshire.

The detailed image shows NGC 6946, sometimes known as the Fireworks Galaxy, in the skies above Wantage.

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It was snapped by systems analyst Roland Gooday, a photographer who keeps a specialist camera at the end of his telescope for clear nights.

Oxford Mail: Picture: Roland GoodayPicture: Roland Gooday

Mr Gooday, 48, of Coopers Lane, explained he was out imaging on Saturday (August 6) as the skies are “properly dark” again for a few hours each night.

The Fireworks Galaxy was discovered by William Herschel on September 9 1798.

The galaxy has a diameter of approximately 40,000 light-years, about one-third of the Milky Way's size, and it contains around half the number of stars.

It can be found in between the constellations of Cepheus and Cygnus.

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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