Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Ursa Major (UMa)  ·  Contains:  Cigar Galaxy  ·  M 82  ·  NGC 3034
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The Cigar Galaxy (M82) in HαRGB, mlewis
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The Cigar Galaxy (M82) in HαRGB

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
The Cigar Galaxy (M82) in HαRGB, mlewis
Powered byPixInsight

The Cigar Galaxy (M82) in HαRGB

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Description

This dramatic edge on galaxy is M82, known as the Cigar Galaxy. It is a starburst galaxy, with intense star formation occurring at rates ~10 times higher than in our own Milky Way Galaxy. The starburst activity is thought to be from interactions with nearby M81. M82 is thought to be at a distance of approximately 12 million light years from Earth. Like many galaxies it also harbors a super massive black hole at its center.

This image is the result of 11 hours and 50 mins worth of data collected in R,G,B and Hα. Shorter exposure RGB data was added back in for the stars.

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The Cigar Galaxy (M82) in HαRGB, mlewis