M81 and M82

Here are two companion galaxies that I recently imaged from Astrohaven Observatory. They are M81 and M82. M81 is the large spiral galaxy in the upper left. It is also called Bode's Nebule, since it was once thought to be a large gas cloud or nebula. Edwin Hubble's landmark discovery in the 1920's revealed that many of these so called gas clouds, were actually galaxies like our own containing billions of stars. The other galaxy is M82, or the cigar galaxy. It has jets of hydrogen gas and dust that are spewing out of both sides. The gas appears red as it is being ionized by newly forming stars in the region. Stellar winds from the star fomation cause a galactic "superwind" that shoots the gas 10,000 light years into space. It is likely that the irregular shape of M82 occured from passing too close to it's companion M81. These two beauties lie about 12 million light years away from us. (A light year is about 6 trillion miles!) To put this in perspective, if you were traveling in the fastest space ship that we currently have, it would take you 34,000 years to travel 1 light year. Well, after refueling at the gas station after the 34,000 years, you would then have to make the pit stop 11,999,999 times again. It gives new meaning to the question, "Dad, are we almost there yet?"

Imaging info:

• Location: Astrohaven Observatory
• Scope: Takahashi FSQ 106
• Mount: Paramount ME
• Camera: ST10xme
• LRGB 50:25:25:25
• Date: April, 2006