M82: Galaxy with a Supergalactic Wind
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, released yesterday to commemorate the
sixteenth anniversary of the
Hubble Space Telescope,
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
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.
