Magnificent
36. galaxy
starburst
Messier 82
This mosaic image of the magnificent starburst galaxy,
Messier 82 (M82) is the sharpest wide-angle view ever
obtained of M82. It is a galaxy remarkable for its webs
of shredded clouds and flame-like plumes of glowing
hydrogen blasting out from its central regions where
young stars are being born 10 times faster than they
are inside in our Milky Way Galaxy.
Credit: NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team
STScI/AURA)
“The beauty of Hubble is that we
continue to make new, unforeseen
discoveries. So with every new cycle
of observations we are afforded,
my answer to that question [of what
should be Hubble’s last image target]
will likely change.”
— Dr. Katherine E. Whitaker
NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland