Title
What's lighting up the Cigar Galaxy
Caption
What's lighting up the Cigar Galaxy? M82, as this irregular galaxy is also known, was stirred up by a recent pass near large spiral galaxy M81. This doesn't fully explain the source of the red-glowing outwardly expanding gas, however. Recent evidence indicates that this gas is being driven out by the combined emerging particle winds of many stars, together creating a galactic super wind.. The above photographic mosaic highlights a specific colour of red light strongly emitted by ionized hydrogen gas, showing detailed filaments of this gas. The filaments extend for over 10,000 light years. The 12-million light-year distant Cigar Galaxy is the brightest galaxy in the sky in infrared light, and can be seen in visible light with a small telescope towards the constellation of the Great Bear (Ursa Major).
Date
21th century
Credit line
Photo12/Ann Ronan Picture Library
Reference
ARP15A02_104
License type
Rights managed
Available size
51,1Mb (4,0Mb) / 16,0in x 12,4in / 4790 x 3731 (300dpi)