Posted on 03/26/2012 6:10:48 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: 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 superwind.. The above photographic mosaic highlights a specific color 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).
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Image Credit: NASA, ESA, The Hubble Heritage Team, (STScI/AURA); Acknowledgement: M. Mountain (STScI), P. Puxley (NSF), J. Gallagher (U. Wisconsin)]
|
Oh Man, that’s BEAUTIFUL!
“Supergalactic...Planetary!”
Such infinite variety. Thanks, civ.
“Planetary....Supergalactic!”
“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times...”
I hope their neighbors have some supergalactic air freshener.
For being 12 million light years away, the detail in the image is incredible. I’d say we got our money’s worth out of the Hubble.
Hey! It’s the Barfing Galaxy!
An old friend indeed.
M82 is, of course, another Messier object (Messier 82 a.k.a. NGC 3034), so the APoD has been getting Messier lately.
Sorry, I had to do it.
Maybe one of those flat pine trees on a string. A really big one.
I wholeheartedly agree.
That ain’t the only thing getting messier judging by the tagline...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.