|
Credit & Copyright: Team ARO,
Alentejo Remote Observatory
Explanation:
M82 is a starburst galaxy
with a superwind.
In fact,
through ensuing supernova explosions and
powerful winds from massive stars,
the burst of star formation in M82
is driving a prodigious outflow.
Evidence for the superwind
from the galaxy's central regions
is clear in sharp telescopic snapshot.
The composite image highlights emission from
long outflow filaments of atomic hydrogen gas in reddish hues.
Some of the gas in the superwind,
enriched in heavy elements
forged in the massive stars,
will eventually escape into
intergalactic space.
Triggered by a
close encounter with
nearby large galaxy M81,
the furious burst of star formation in M82 should last about
100 million years or so.
Also known as the Cigar Galaxy for its elongated visual appearance,
M82 is about 30,000 light-years across.
It lies 12 million light-years away near the northern boundary of
Ursa Major.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: M 82 - galaxies
Publications with words: M 82 - galaxies
See also:
- APOD: 2024 April 15 Á The Cigar Galaxy from Hubble and Webb
- APOD: 2024 March 20 Á The Eyes in Markarians Galaxy Chain
- APOD: 2023 August 2 Á M82: Galaxy with a Supergalactic Wind
- Galaxy Wars: M81 and M82
- In the Heart of the Virgo Cluster
- Comet Leonard and the Whale Galaxy
- NGC 3314: When Galaxies Overlap