NGC 7331 - Spiral and Stellar Explosion

NGC 7331 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation of Pegasus. It is known as the "Milky Way's twin" due to its size and structure, although it does not have a central bar like our own. A bright bulge can be seen at its nucleus, while its spiral arms are filled with star-forming regions, gas, and dust, which gracefully twist around the disk. Recently, the supernova SN 2025rbs, a Type Ia starburst, was detected in this galaxy, visible as a small bright point near the spiral arms. The supernova provides a spectacular contrast, highlighting the dynamics and beauty of the galaxy, which occupies most of the image frame. NGC 7331 is also part of a visual grouping known as the Deer Lick Group, which includes several other galaxies: NGC 7335, 7336, 7337, and 7340. Although these galaxies appear close in the sky, they are actually much more distant and do not form a physical group. Still, this visual alignment offers a stunning view and is a classic for amateur observers and astrophotographers. Data obtained from San Justo de la Vega, between July 27 and August 27, 2025. Equipment: Sky-Watcher 200PDS Telescope Camera: ZWO ASI 533MC Pro Sky-Watcher NEQ6 R Mount Lunatico EZG60 Guider Kit + ZWO ASI 220MM Mini Orion 0.85x Reducer/Corrector 2" QuadEnhancen Pptolong Filter ASIair Plus Data: RGB: 126x300" -10°C Total integration time: 10.5 hours