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APOD: 2026 April 17 – M82: Starburst Galaxy with a Superwind

A detailed telescopic portrait of Messier 82, the Cigar Galaxy, showcasing its intense starburst activity and powerful superwind outflow.

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APOD: 2026 April 17 – M82: Starburst Galaxy with a Superwind

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APOD: 2026 April 17 – M82: Starburst Galaxy with a Superwind

Summary: This composite image captures Messier 82 (M82), a starburst galaxy known as the Cigar Galaxy, featuring a dramatic superwind driven by intense star formation.

Messier 82 (M82), also known as the Cigar Galaxy, is a starburst galaxy located 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. This 33-hour narrowband composite image reveals a powerful superwind—a massive outflow of gas driven by supernova explosions and stellar winds from a furious burst of star formation. The reddish filaments visible in the image represent atomic hydrogen gas being ejected from the galaxy's center, some of which will eventually escape into intergalactic space. This starburst activity was triggered by a close encounter with the neighboring galaxy M81 and is expected to continue for approximately 100 million years.

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1. Introduction to Messier 82 (Cigar Galaxy) 2. The Mechanism of the Superwind 3. Image Composition and Data 4. Galactic Interaction and Evolution 5. Physical Characteristics of M82

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7 days: 7,443

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