Hubble's view of the 'Cigar Galaxy' (M82)

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 ten times faster than they are inside in our Milky Way Galaxy.

The six-image composite mosaic was assembled with images taken with four coloured filters by the the Advanced Camera for Surveys’ Wide Field Channel on board the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, in March 2006.