Galaxies
Messier 82 in Ursa Major
Messier 82 is approximately 12 million lightyears away and 40,000 lightyears in diameter. It is a starburst galaxy with a very high rate of star formation, the centre being over 100 times more luminous than that of our own galaxy. This is probably the result of an interaction with the neighbouring galaxy M81. This image shows the hydrogen-alpha nebulosity radiating from the galaxy centre.
The image is the result of 3h of LRGB and just over 6h of H-alpha data capture, taken over 3 evenings in December 2022 from Horsham. A ZWO ASI2600MM Pro monochrome camera was used, through an 8-inch Teleskop-Service Ritchey-Chretien Cassegrain reflector.
Date: 20/12/2022
Location: Horsham, West Sussex, UK
Photographer: Graham Wilcock
