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Astronomy Picture of the Day - M82: Galaxy with a Supergalactic Wind
NASA ^ | 29 Jun, 2026 | M82: Galaxy with a Supergalactic Wind

Posted on 06/29/2026 12:01:52 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 combines images taken in visible light from the Hubble Space Telescope and images taken in infrared light from James Webb Space Telescope. It shows the light-colored central galaxy nearly edge on across the image center with tremendous orange and red colored filaments of gas and dust extending both up and down. 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).


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa
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1 posted on 06/29/2026 12:01:52 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 06/29/2026 12:02:13 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

3 posted on 06/29/2026 12:03:15 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

They like Beans


4 posted on 06/29/2026 12:04:42 PM PDT by butlerweave (Fateh)
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To: MtnClimber

M82, as this starburst galaxy is also known, was stirred up by a recent pass near the TACO BELL Galaxy.....................


5 posted on 06/29/2026 12:08:34 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: MtnClimber

To avoid accidents you throw a recognition signal, so they know where you are. In this case, they are throwing red smoke.


6 posted on 06/29/2026 12:09:03 PM PDT by 17th Miss Regt (Fascist, deplorable, and proud of it!)
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To: MtnClimber

Wow.


7 posted on 06/29/2026 12:10:00 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: MtnClimber

“was stirred up by a recent pass near large spiral galaxy M81”

LOL “recent”


8 posted on 06/29/2026 12:18:20 PM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: Resolute Conservative
LOL “recent”

Yes, recent is a relative thing. It was certainly not recent to you or me!

9 posted on 06/29/2026 12:27:25 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

It looks like a space chicken with its tail on fire.


10 posted on 06/29/2026 1:42:28 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer” )
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To: blueunicorn6

It could be a really spicy Cheeseburger.


11 posted on 06/29/2026 2:14:13 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

That is not a Galaxy. It is simply a tamale that was packed to the poor victim with habanero and ghost peppers. That image is simply his remnants exploding across the galaxy.


12 posted on 06/29/2026 2:18:24 PM PDT by cpdiii (cane cutter, deckhand, oilfield roughneck, drilling fluid tech, geologist, pilot, pharmacist, MAGA)
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To: MtnClimber

It looks like a 4th of July firework! 💥💥💥


13 posted on 06/29/2026 2:26:58 PM PDT by telescope115 (Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
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To: telescope115

A 4th of July fireworks display where there is at least one person eating a cheeseburger.


14 posted on 06/29/2026 2:30:42 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Yes…..yes…..

Now I see it!


15 posted on 06/29/2026 5:13:56 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer” )
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