Posted on 08/02/2023 1:57:13 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: Why is the Cigar Galaxy billowing red smoke? M82, as this starburst 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 and dust, however. Evidence indicates that this gas and dust is being driven out by the combined emerging particle winds of many stars, together creating a galactic superwind. The dust particles are thought to originate in M82's interstellar medium and are actually similar in size to particles in cigar smoke. The featured photographic mosaic highlights a specific color of red light strongly emitted by ionized hydrogen gas, showing detailed filaments of this gas and dust. 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).
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
I could look at this as a violent swirling mass, but I prefer the pareidolia of a giant milk shake being blended, blueberries blended along the outside and raspberries splattering as they are thrown in!
It looks like a dirndl.
I can’t top that...
That’s a lot of red in that wind.
They need to check for galactic hemorrhoids.
Why is the Cigar Galaxy billowing red smoke?
Because its Messier.................
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