Couldn’t Be Messier

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It could, though.

Behold the elegant swirl of Messier 81, aka NGC 3031 or Bode’s galaxy.  To wit:

this grand spiral can be found toward the northern constellation of Ursa Major, the Great Bear. The detailed telescopic view reveals M81’s bright yellow nucleus, blue spiral arms, pink starforming regions, and sweeping cosmic dust lanes. Some dust lanes actually run through the galactic disk (left of center), contrary to other prominent spiral features though. The errant dust lanes may be the lingering result of a close encounter between M81 and its smaller companion galaxy, M82. Scrutiny of variable stars in M81 has yielded one of the best determined distances for an external galaxy — 11.8 million light-years.

(Image: Paolo De Salvatore, Zenit Observatory)

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6 thoughts on “Couldn’t Be Messier

  1. Clampers Outside

    For perspective… *pushes glasses up the bridge of nose knowingly*

    Voyager was only 70,000 light years away in the Delta Quadrant.

    1. Andyourpointiswhatexactly?

      I watched Voyager and although I liked it, I never really took to it like the others. Q was a bit of fun but Janeaway was a bit of a pain in the hoop. Tell ya what, though: Discovery is hotting up! HOO AHH!

      1. Jeffrey

        Neither but thought it was interesting to show we have great astronomers right here :) – Pic shown is great of course!

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