M82_V4a
Cigar Galaxy (M82) – The Cigar Galaxy is a site of intense starburst activity, believed to be triggered by its interaction with the nearby Messier 81 (Bode’s Galaxy). In M82, young stars are crammed into tiny but massive star clusters. These, in turn, congregate by the dozens to make the bright patches, or “starburst clumps,” in the central parts of M82. The clusters in the clumps can only be distinguished in sharp Hubble images. The rapid rate of star formation in this galaxy eventually will be self-limiting. When star formation becomes too vigorous, it will consume or destroy the material needed to make more stars. The starburst then will subside, probably in a few tens of millions of years. Located 12 million light-years away, M82 appears high in the northern spring sky in the direction of the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear. It is called the “Cigar Galaxy” because of the elliptical shape produced by the oblique tilt of its starry disk relative to our line of sight.
Description from www.constellation-guide.com
Taken from Death Valley CA, January 2025
Equipment Paramount MYT, ZWO 2600MM, Vixen VC200L @ 1800mm focal length. Scope courtesy of Larry Parker
This image is an HORGB composition. H and O are surprisingly strong. This object also has a strong S2 component, but it overlaps with Ha too much to display as a separate color channel. Stars are RGB only.
RGB 3 hours each channel
HO 6 hours each channel
M82_V4a
Cigar Galaxy (M82) – The Cigar Galaxy is a site of intense starburst activity, believed to be triggered by its interaction with the nearby Messier 81 (Bode’s Galaxy). In M82, young stars are crammed into tiny but massive star clusters. These, in turn, congregate by the dozens to make the bright patches, or “starburst clumps,” in the central parts of M82. The clusters in the clumps can only be distinguished in sharp Hubble images. The rapid rate of star formation in this galaxy eventually will be self-limiting. When star formation becomes too vigorous, it will consume or destroy the material needed to make more stars. The starburst then will subside, probably in a few tens of millions of years. Located 12 million light-years away, M82 appears high in the northern spring sky in the direction of the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear. It is called the “Cigar Galaxy” because of the elliptical shape produced by the oblique tilt of its starry disk relative to our line of sight.
Description from www.constellation-guide.com
Taken from Death Valley CA, January 2025
Equipment Paramount MYT, ZWO 2600MM, Vixen VC200L @ 1800mm focal length. Scope courtesy of Larry Parker
This image is an HORGB composition. H and O are surprisingly strong. This object also has a strong S2 component, but it overlaps with Ha too much to display as a separate color channel. Stars are RGB only.
RGB 3 hours each channel
HO 6 hours each channel