M82 - The Cigar Galaxy
M82 is a dramatic edge on galaxy lying close to M81 in Ursa Major around 11 million light years away. Lying edge on to us it presents a classic cigar shape, hence it's common name. M82 is a "starburst galaxy". The core of the galaxy contains some highly energised star clusters which are emitting huge amounts of ionised hydrogen. It may be that this results from disturbance following a previous interaction with M81.
Date: 9th February 2008.
Although M82 lies in quite a poor area of sky for me with regard to light pollution, it is pretty bright. Also this isn't such an issue with an Ha filter used to capture the starburst. Good transparency and moderate seeing.
Scope: William Optics FLT 110 and ZS66 for guiding.
Camera: SXV H9 and Lodestar guider.
Mount: Takahashi EM200.
Filters: Astronomic Ha 13nm, CLS and type II RGB.
Capture details:Ha 12x20mins, Luminence 12x3mins with CLS filter, R 12x44 secs, G 12x40 and B 12x56,
Captured and combinedwith Maxim and processed in PS.