| "The sky is the ultimate art gallery just above us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 82) |
Astrophotography by Jason Jennings |
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| Galaxies :: M82 - Cigar Galaxy | |
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| Resolutions Available: 780x780 : 1560x1560 | |
| Object | M82 - Cigar Galaxy |
| Comment |
Messier 82 (aka M82, NGC 3034, Cigar Galaxy) is an irregular galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. The galaxy is undergoing a star burst where strong stellar winds from thousands of energetic new stars in the dense galactic core expel hot gases that extends outward. This is visible as folds of red ionised hydrogen alpha gas. The galaxy is considered irregular in shape, potentially due to a recent interaction with its galactic neighbour M81. M82 is 12,000 light-years distant. This image is a LRGB composite. Data acquired on the Lightbuckets 24" RCOS. |
| Optics | RCOS 24" F/8 (4876 mm FL) |
| Camera | Apogee Alta U42 - 1x1 bin (image scale .57 arcsec/pix) |
| Mount | RCOS Professional Series Equatorial Fork |
| Exposure | Total exposure time: 8.6 hours (L:220min,RGB:100min respectively) |
| Date |
Acquired over multiple nights 05-06/12/2008 21-22/12/2008 29-30/12/2008 |