Galaxy Wars: M81 versus M82
Explanation:
In the lower left corner, surrounded by blue spiral arms, is spiral galaxy
M81.
In the upper right corner, marked by red gas and dust clouds, is irregular galaxy
M82.
This stunning vista shows these two mammoth galaxies locked in
gravitational combat, as they have been for the past billion
years.
The gravity from each galaxy
dramatically affects the
other during each hundred million-year pass.
Last go-round,
M82's gravity likely raised
density waves rippling around
M81,
resulting in the richness of
M81's
spiral arms.
But M81 left
M82 with
violent star forming regions and colliding gas clouds so energetic the galaxy
glows
in X-rays.
This big battle is
seen from Earth through the faint glow of an
Integrated Flux Nebula,
a little studied complex of diffuse gas and dust clouds in our
Milky Way Galaxy.
In a few billion years only one galaxy
will remain.
Follow APOD on:
Facebook,
Google Plus,
or
Twitter
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.
