XMM-Newton observations of Messier 82
Wed Apr 8, 2009 at 14:13 UTC
ESA's spaceborne X-ray observatory, XMM-Newton, has carried out an exclusive observation of the galaxy Messier 82, for the '100 Hours of Astronomy' cornerstone project for the International Year of Astronomy 2009. XMM-Newton has been studying the sky in X-ray, optical and ultraviolet wavelengths simultaneously, since its launch in December 1999.
The image is composed of several different XMM-Newton observations of Messier 82, adding up to 52.5 hours of observing time in total. The observations were carried out in X-ray, ultraviolet and visible wavelengths and include the special observation for the International Year of Astronomy 2009.
Messier 82 has several names including: M82, the Cigar Galaxy and NGC 3034. Located in the constellation Ursa Major at a distance of about 12 million light-years, it is the nearest and one of the most active starburst galaxies, i.e. it shows an exceptionally high rate of star formation. M82 is interacting gravitationally with its neighbour, the spiral galaxy Messier 81, which is most probably the cause for the violent starburst activity in the region around its centre, or the circumnuclear region.
The active star formation taking place in its interior and its effect on the gas and dust in its interstellar medium can be observed very well from Earth. This makes M82 is one of the best-studied galaxies in the sky.
Credit: ESA
To celebrate the International Year of Astronomy, and as part of the 100 Hours of Astronomy cornerstone project, ESA is releasing this magnificent image of the starburst galaxy Messier 82 (M82) obtained with the XMM-Newton observatory. The image shows bright knots in the plane of the galaxy, indicating a region of intense star formation, and emerging plumes of supergalactic winds glowing in X-rays.
Credit: ESA
Optical and ultraviolet image of Messier 82. The image shows the very bright starry disc of the galaxy with striking dust lanes. It is composed of several different XMM-Newton observations of Messier 82, adding up to 52.5 hours of observing time in total.
Credit: ESA
X-ray image of Messier 82. The image shows plumes of hot gas glowing in X-rays bursting out of the galactic disk (in blue), resulting from very intense bursts of star formation in the circumnuclear region. It is composed of several different XMM-Newton observations of Messier 82, adding up to 52.5 hours of observing time in total.
| Source: European Space Agency | |
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