The Cigar Galaxy M82

Spitzer_sig14-004a_1024

spitzer_sig14-004a February 26th, 2014

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

This image shows M82, also known as the "Cigar galaxy," in infrared light, as observed by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope back in 2005. Long-wavelength, infrared light can pass through the cosmic dust that obscures the visible light our eyes see, as well as other short wavelength light, such as ultraviolet. With its dust-piercing, infrared vision, Spitzer therefore allows astronomers to see into and thus better understand otherwise hidden phenomena.

Astronomers discovered in early 2014 that a supernova had exploded in a particularly dusty region of M82. Spitzer has since taken a series of observations of the region. The telescope is collecting valuable data by being able to peer directly into the heart of the aftermath of the stellar explosion.

In the image, light from Spitzer's infrared channels are colored blue at 3.6 microns and green at 4.5 microns.

Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: https://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/image/sig14-004a-the-cigar-galaxy-m82

Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy

Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Messier 82 M82 NGC 3034 Cigar Galaxy
Subject - Local Universe
Galaxy > Type > Spiral
Galaxy > Type > Irregular
Galaxy > Activity > Starburst

Distance

Universescale2
11,700,000 light years
Spitzer_sig14-004a_128
 

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 9h 55m 52.2s
DEC = 69° 40’ 46.9”
Orientation
North is up
Field of View
11.0 x 8.5 arcminutes
Constellation
Ursa Major

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Blue Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Near-IR) 3.6 µm
Green Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Near-IR) 4.5 µm
Spectrum_base
Blue
Green
Spitzer_sig14-004a_1280
×
ID
sig14-004a
Subject Category
C.5.1.1   C.5.1.6   C.5.3.3  
Subject Name
Messier 82, M82, NGC 3034, Cigar Galaxy
Credits
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Release Date
2014-02-26
Lightyears
11,700,000
Redshift
0.000677
Reference Url
https://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/image/sig14-004a-the-cigar-galaxy-m82
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Spitzer, Spitzer
Instrument
IRAC, IRAC
Color Assignment
Blue, Green
Band
Infrared, Infrared
Bandpass
Near-IR, Near-IR
Central Wavelength
3600, 4500
Start Time
2005-05-09, 2005-05-09
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
Reference Value
148.96758000000, 69.67970400000
Reference Dimension
2200.00, 1700.00
Reference Pixel
1093.97, 829.86
Scale
-0.000083333, 0.000083333
Rotation
0
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Spitzer Space Telescope
URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Name
Email
Telephone
Address
1200 E. California Blvd.
City
Pasadena
State/Province
CA
Postal Code
91125
Country
USA
Rights
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy
Publisher
Spitzer Science Center
Publisher ID
spitzer
Resource ID
sig14-004b.tif
Metadata Date
2022-03-18T03:46:15Z
Metadata Version
1.2
×

 

Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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Universescalefull
11,700,000 light years

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