M82 Exploding Galaxy with
Supernova 2014J
M82 has been called
the Cigar Galaxy due to its namesake's shape when observing
visually through a telescope. Also known as NGC 3034, it
is sometimes referred to as an exploding galaxy. It is not
really exploding, though it does have intense star formation
causing it to produce 10 times more stars than that of our own
galaxy, the Milky Way. Consequently it is 5 times brighter than our
own galaxy, even though it is one third the size.
What is causing this star formation is likely the gravitational
pull of nearby monster
galaxy M81. On January 21 of this year (2014), a Type Ia
supernova was discovered shown in the image above. Move
your mouse over the image to identify its location. This type of supernova is
interesting in two ways. First it happens only in
binary star systems in which one of the stars is a white dwarf
consuming its companion star's mass over time, such that its mass finally allows for the ignition
temperature of carbon fusion. After enough mass is
consumed, eventually a runaway reaction occurs resulting in the
catastrophic explosion.
For several weeks, the type Ia supernova will produce one
or more times the combined energy output of all the stars of its entire galaxy as shown in the unprocessed image
below. Move your mouse over this image to see processed
compared to unprocessed image. The second interesting fact about a type
Ia supernova is that it always produces the same brightness making it an
excellent tool to
measure distances to galaxies.
Optics: |
RC Optical System 20" F/8.2 (4165.6 mm Focal Length) |
Date: |
January 2014 |
Camera: |
SBIG STXL-11002 with AO-X Adaptive Optics |
Location: |
Columbus, Texas |
Exposure: |
LRGB = 100:50:50:50 minutes |
Imager: |
Kent E. Biggs |