A Contrast of Order and Chaos
Located in the constellation Ursa Major, M81 and M82 are physically close to one another and locked in a gravitational dance. Thousands of years ago, a close pass between the two triggered a massive burst of star formation in M82. This 'starburst' is so intense that the combined pressure of supernova explosions is literally blowing the galaxy apart, creating the famous red plumes of ionized hydrogen gas seen shooting out from its center. M81, meanwhile, remains one of the most symmetrical spiral galaxies known, its arms winding perfectly toward a supermassive black hole at its core.
Imaging Challenges
- • Capturing the faint red filaments of M82's 'superwind' without overexposing the galaxy's bright body.
- • Revealing the Integrated Flux Nebula (IFN)—the extremely faint dust clouds within our own galaxy that are illuminated by the combined light of the Milky Way.
- • Balancing the processing of two very different galaxy types in a single frame.
The red plumes in M82 are moving at speeds of over 1,000 kilometers per second, driven by the energy of millions of young, massive stars.