A Story Of Analyzing Light: Starburst Galaxy M82
We can analyze light from galaxy M82 to understand what it is made of and how it formed.
Almost everything we know about M82, a spiral galaxy roughly 12 million light-years away, comes from studying the different forms of light—including infrared, visible, and X-ray light—that it gives off. By analyzing this light, we can map the structure of the galaxy and its surrounding environment, determine what different parts of the galaxy are made of, and estimate how hot various materials are. There are two main ways to study the light from celestial objects like M82: images and spectra.
Images of M82 are like photographs. They allow us to see what the galaxy looks like in different wavelengths: how bright it is in different types of light; how the brightness varies over space; and how different parts of the galaxy relate to each other.
The spectra of M82 give us other details. Spectra show us small differences in the brightness of very specific colors (wavelengths) that human eyes cannot discern on their own. These differences in brightness give us information about the galaxy that the image does not show. The pattern of peaks and valleys provides evidence for specific elements and compounds in their particular environments: Different atoms, molecules, and ions shine in very specific wavelengths, and some materials block certain wavelengths of light. The spectrum can also give us clues about temperature and the events—like galaxy collisions and supernova explosions—that formed different materials and structures in the galaxy.
Quick Facts: Starburst Galaxy M82
Also known as:
Messier 82, The Cigar Galaxy, NGC 3034
Type of object:
Starburst galaxy, spiral galaxy
Distance from Earth:
12 million light-years away
Location in the sky:
Ursa Major Constellation
Location in the universe:
Outside the Milky Way
Size:
37,000 light-years across
Did you know:
The mixture of hot, warm, and cold gas and dust scattered throughout M82 is a result of a collision with a neighboring galaxy, which caused an intense burst of star formation and star death.
Credits: Starburst Galaxy M82
Multi-wavelength image (mid-infrared, visible, X-ray): NASA, ESA, A. Pagan (STScI)Multi-wavelength spectrum based on R. C. Kennicutt, et al. 2003, PASP, 115, 928-952 (Figure 1)
Pull-out of X-ray spectrum from the Chandra X-ray Observatory: Laura LopezX-ray light image from the Chandra X-ray Observatory: NASA
X-ray spectrum from the Chandra X-ray Observatory: Laura Lopez
Visible light image from the Hubble Space Telescope: NASA, ESAVisible light spectrum from the Hubble Space Telescope based on L. J. Smith, et al. 2006, MNRAS, 370, 1, 513-527 (Figure 6)
Mid-infrared image from the Spitzer Space Telescope: NASAMid-infrared spectrum from the Spitzer Space Telescope based on P. Beirão, et al. 2008, ApJ, 676, 304-316 (Figure 4)
Far-infrared image from the Herschel Space Telescope: ESAFar-infrared spectrum from the Herschel Space Telescope based on P. Panuzzo, et al. 2010, A&A, 518, L37 (Figure 1)
Subject-matter expertise provided by Dr. Laura Lopez
Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute’s Office of Public Outreach