Messier 82An incredibly active star burst galaxy located about 12 million light years away in the constellation Ursa Major. Massive clumps of stars being formed and subsequent Supernovae are sources for X-Ray, Infrared, and Radio wave emissions. Roughly every ten years, large supernovae have been observed and recorded. M82, like most galaxies, houses a Super-massive Black hole at its center and was previously believed to be an irregular spiral-form galaxy. Observations in the infrared have indicated two major trailing arms and are seen in this image as more blue than the material disk.
Did some major battle with the wind to get these few frames. Kept 11 out of 45. The usual setup, 11 x 180s with the 350d. Taken Monday night / Tuesday morning under hazy, partly cloudy skies. The wind was horrendous.