Messier 82 in Ursa Major, Steve Milne
Messier 82 in Ursa Major, Steve Milne

Equipment

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Acquisition details

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Description

Messier 82 (NGC 3034) – the Cigar Galaxy - is approximately 12 million light years away in the constellation of Ursa Major. It was first observed by Johann Elert Bode on 31 December 1774.

The core of M82 is an area of intense star formation, considered to be a result of gravitational interaction with nearby Messier 81. Radiating out from the core of M82 are streams of gas that are especially striking in Ha. These wisps extend out some 34,000 light years from the core - the galaxy is 42,000 light years long. (Information adapted from: O’Meara, SJ, The Messier Objects: Second Edition: Cambridge University Press – 2014.)

UPDATE (thanks to Sigga – see her comments below): To the left and slightly above the galaxy there is a small arc of nebulosity visible in the Ha data. This has been dubbed ‘the cap’ - it consists of galactic halo material that has been ionized by the superwind shock or intense ultraviolet radiation from the young, massive stars in the galaxy's core (APOD). This ‘cap’ is around 35,000 light-years from the galaxy.

Messier 82 was imaged between 31 December 2018 and 14 January 2019 from a remote imaging rig in Spain owned and operated by Barry Wilson and Steve Milne.

Capture details are as follows:

Telescope: TEC140

Camera: QSI 690

Filters: Astrodon NB 3nm

Mount: 10 Micron GM2000HPS

Ha: 24 x 1200s

Lum: 48 x 600s

Red: 24 x 600s

Green: 24 x 600s

Blue: 24 x 600s

A total of 28 hours exposure.

Data capture: Steve Milne & Barry Wilson

Image Processing: Steve Milne

Comments

Revisions

    Messier 82 in Ursa Major, Steve Milne
    Original
    Messier 82 in Ursa Major, Steve Milne
    B
  • Final
    Messier 82 in Ursa Major, Steve Milne
    C

B

Description: Slight 'lift' to background

Uploaded: ...

C

Description: Annoying little text saying 'Annotation' in top left corner removed - seemed to be put there by PixInsight! I only just noticed it...

Uploaded: ...

Histogram

Messier 82 in Ursa Major, Steve Milne