M81 and M82 Bode’s Galaxy and The Cigar Galaxy

These two mammoth galaxies have been locked in gravitational combat for the past billion years. The gravity from each galaxy dramatically affects the other during each hundred million-year pass. Last go-round, M82's gravity likely raised density waves rippling around M81, resulting in the richness of M81's spiral arms. But M81 left M82 with violent star forming regions and colliding gas clouds so energetic the galaxy glows in X-rays. In a few billion years only one galaxy will remain.

Imaging Data

Date: 8-20-2010

Location : Sudbury, Massachusetts

Optics : ZenithStar 66mm Apo

Filter(s) : None

Mount : Piggyback LX-200 on ATS Pier

Autoguiding : None

Camera : Canon EOS 1000D Astro-modified

Exposure info : 3 x 120 second Exposures @ISO 1600

Total Exposure : 6 minutes