A Violent Intergalactic Encounter
Located 12 million light-years away in Ursa Major, M81 and M82 are locked in a gravitational dance that has lasted for hundreds of millions of years. M81 (Bode’s Galaxy) is a near-perfect spiral, while M82 (The Cigar Galaxy) is a chaotic starburst galaxy.
The gravitational influence of the larger M81 has triggered a massive burst of star formation in M82. This "starburst" creates powerful galactic winds that blast plumes of red ionized hydrogen (H-alpha) out from the Cigar’s core—a feature captured here through dedicated narrowband integration. In deep exposures, the background often reveals the Integrated Flux Nebula (IFN), dust clouds within our own galaxy illuminated by the combined light of the Milky Way.
Imaging Challenges
- H-Alpha Details: Capturing the crimson jets of M82 requires blending narrowband data into a broadband RGB image without washing out the galaxy's natural colors.
- IFN Extraction: Revealing the faint dust surrounding the pair requires extremely dark skies (Bortle 1-3) and long total integration times.
- Star Control: This region is filled with foreground stars from our own galaxy; careful star reduction is needed to keep the focus on the intergalactic pair.