A close passage to M81 some 5 million years ago has left this galaxy in chaos. Called the “Starburst Galaxy” we can see the core is undergoing a volcano-like eruption spewing material out into space for thousands of light years.

12 1/2″ Ritchey-Chretien Telescope with a ST10XE/CFW8, F/6 Ha/R+GB (31/7minHa,14/7minR + 6/7min G,B components binned 2×2. Scaled on MaximDL at Ha .19,G 5,B 6.5).