Digitized Sky Survey 2 image of M82 and M81 (ground-based image)
The spiral galaxy M81 and the neighbour galaxy M82 are forming a physical pair. A few tens of million years ago, the smaller M82 collided with M81. This gravitational interaction deformed M82 and caused its concentrated burst of star formation.
Credit:
ESA/Hubble and Digitized Sky Survey 2. Acknowledgements: Davide De Martin (ESA/Hubble
)
About the Image
| Id: | heic0604h |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 24 April 2006, 15:00 |
| Related releases: | heic0604 |
| Size: | 10102 x 13123 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Cigar Galaxy, Messier 82 |
| Type: | • Local Universe : Galaxy : Activity : Starburst • Galaxies Images/Videos |
| Distance: | 13 million light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
| Optical B |
DSS |
| Infrared I |
DSS |
