We inhabitants of the Milky Way, together with the other stars settled in this corner of the universe, are watching what has happened to two neighbouring galaxies some 11.5 million light-years away after their cosmic battle—a struggle that began more than a billion years ago when the galaxies M81 and M82 became gravitationally entangled. [source]
Although we have missed the chance to witness the moment of their encounter itself, the evidence tells of a far from peaceful history. Rapid star formation in both galaxies provides one clue: the bright arms of M81 on the right side of the image, and the intensely luminous stellar nurseries of M82 on the left, associated in the author's dramatic description with powerful X-ray activity from the galaxy's wounded heart. [source] [source] [source] [source]
The original Persian text deliberately turns the interaction into an epic battlefield. M82, “with a cigar at its lips,” contemplates revenge upon its opponent, while both galaxies anxiously raise armies of young stars for a future confrontation. They know, in this metaphor, that the coming battle will be decisive because ultimately there is no path left except to merge. What remains at the end will be a single galaxy containing stars from both. [source]
We observe this spectacle through a veil of cloud and dust lying only a few hundred light-years from us and surrounding our own galactic neighbourhood. The article identifies this comparatively little-studied material as the Milky Way's galactic cirrus. We see it because light from stars is reflected and scattered through the clouds. [source] [source]
The original image and supporting links are preserved below. [source]