In fact, through supernova explosions and
powerful winds from massive stars,
the burst of star formation in M82
is driving a prodigious outflow.

Evidence for the
superwind
from the galaxy's central regions is clear in the
sharp telescopic portrait.

The composite image includes 33 hours of narrowband data,
highlighting emission from
long outflow filaments of atomic hydrogen gas in reddish hues.

Some of the gas in the superwind,
enriched in heavy elements
forged in the massive stars,
will eventually escape into
intergalactic space.

Triggered by a
close encounter with
nearby large galaxy M81,
the furious burst of star formation in M82 should last about
100 million years or so.

Also known as the Cigar Galaxy for its elongated visual appearance,
M82 is about 30,000 light-years across.

It lies 12 million light-years away near the northern boundary of
Ursa Major.