Galactic Trio

Bodes Galaxy (M81) and the Cigar Galaxy (M82) are known to form a beautiful pair of galaxies. M81 is strongly interacting with M82 and a third galaxy, named NGC 3077. This galactic trio was the target of this image.

 

M81 is a spiral galaxy about 12 million light-years away, in the constellation Ursa Major. It is the main galaxy of the 'M81 Group', which includes 60 Galaxies.

 

M82 is a starburst galaxy and a member of the M81 Group. It is it is about five times more luminous than the whole Milky Way and has a center one hundred times more luminous than our galaxy's center. The starburst activity is thought to have been triggered by interaction with neighboring galaxy M81.

 

NGC3077 is thr small galaxy on the left and a member of the M81 Group as well. Despite looking much like an elliptical galaxy, it is a spiral galaxy. It shows wispy edges and scattered dust clouds that are probably a result of gravitational interaction with its larger neighbors.

 

EXIF

Camera: ZWO ASI 1600MM Pro

Telescope: William Optics Megrez 88, f/5.6 (500mm)

Mount: Skywatcher AZ-GTI

Filters: Baader LRGB & H-alpha

3h30min total exposure time

Processing: PixInsight & Photoshop

Done