Starburst Galaxy M82

M82 is a galaxy close to my heart - I spent the majority of my PhD studying it (and I produced this first image of the purple outflows as part of that).

M82 is the closest proper starburst galaxy to us. A starburst is where a galaxy is forming huge numbers of stars very quickly because all the gas inside the galaxy is being swirled up and compressed. The gas clouds fragment, collapse and form clusters of new stars.

In M82’s case, the collective energy from all those new stars is blowing out the leftover gas in what’s known as a galactic wind (the purple/red plumes).

It’s incredible to realise that is going on right now, up there. The galaxy is about 10 million light years away which means some of those new stars might have gone supernova by the time their light reaches us, but rest assured the starburst event itself will continue for 100s of millions of years more…

#blowyourmind

#mindfulstargazing #contemplatetheuniverse #starburst #m82 #m82galaxy #starformation #amazinguniverse