By Hassan Dadashi . Arani | 2024-01-25
![Community photo entitled by Andrea Iorio on 01/23/2024 at Marino, Rome, Italy](https://earthsky.org/upl/gravity_forms/6-d184048789a60d766a02a8e43117298b/2024/01/M82_def.jpg)
On 01/23/2024 10:30 pm by Andrea Iorio| Marino, Rome, Italy
The beautiful starburst galaxy M82 is located in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered in 1774 by German Astronomer Johann Elert Bode.
M82 is undergoing a huge amount of star formation in its core and due to this massive star formation, emits large amounts of hydrogen gas, seen here in red light. A possible theory is that gravitational interactions are occurring with the close neighboring galaxy, M81, and are causing this massive star formation to occur.
M82 is approximately 12 million light-years distant and about 1/2 the size of our Milky Way galaxy. M82 shines at an apparent magnitude of 8.4.
ASI 533MC Pro (gain 101, offset 40, -10°C)
ZWO OAG & ASI 120MM for guiding
Skywatcher 130PDS f5 with 1X coma corrector
Skywatcher EQM-35 Pro
Pixinisght and Photoshop