Cigar Galaxy - M82

Energetic plumes of hydrogen glow as they blast from the central nucleus of the Cigar galaxy. Stars are being born in the center of this galaxy 10 times faster than in our own Milky Way. The image of this starburst galaxy located in Ursa Major is the sharpest wide-angle view ever obtained of M82. This galaxy is remarkable because of its bright blue disk, webs of shredded clouds, and the fiery plumes of glowing hydrogen that blast out of its central regions. A portion of every Posternauts purchase supports young minds through the scholarship fund of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center® Foundation. Learn More Object Name: M82, NGC 3034, Cigar Galaxy Release Date: Apr 24, 2006 Image Credits: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA); Acknowledgment: J. Gallagher (University of Wisconsin), M. Mountain (STScI), and P. Puxley (National Science Foundation)