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M 82 (NGC 3034)

Date:30.10.95 Time:2:30 UT Exposure:B:10m, V:10m, H-alpha:10m, I:10m
Field of View:10' x 7.7' Receiver: WWFPP, 20482 CCD Filter:B, V, (H-alpha, I)
Instrument: 1.23m Observatory: Calar Alto Observer:S. Kohle, T. Credner

© Copyright by the observers


Astronomical Institutes of the University of Bonn

From Colors to Astrophysics:

This color composite made out of exposures in the B, V, I and H-alpha filters represents a view similar to the impression of a naked eye view through a very big telescope.

M 82 belongs to the M 81 group of galaxies and is strongly interacting with M 81. The disk shows a clear warping like NGC 4631. Throughout the disk of M 82 you can see dark filaments of dust shadowing the light of star-forming regions.The inclusion of the additional H-alpha exposure enhances the filamentary structure of ionized HII gas near the center of the galaxy. M 82 is the prototypical starburst galaxy with a bipolar outflow out of the center. The ionization mechanism which is responsible for these filaments is still under debate. It could be photoionization by the light of a luminous starburst in the center of the galaxy. Another explanation could be shock heating due to the outflow of gas.

  • the M 82 page of Hartmut Frommert
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