Starburst Galaxy: M82 Puzzle

M82, also known as the Cigar Galaxy and NGC 3034, is a starburst galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear.  Its appearance is due to an interaction with a neighboring galaxy between 500 million and 600 million years ago.  M82 lies some 23 million light-years away.  Its core is creating stars 10 times faster than our entire galaxy.

This richly colored, high-resolution image measures 19" x 19" upon completion.

Created exclusively for Astronomy magazine by Masterpieces, Inc.

*NASA/ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScl/AURA), photo