A Superwind from the Cigar Galaxy
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 recently released photograph from the new
Subaru Telescope highlights the
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
Ursa Major.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
