About two hundred million years ago, the latest encounter between M-82 and it's nearby companion M-81 occurred in relative proximity to our planet- both are only about 11 million light year's distant which is a mere stone's away compared to the vastness of the universe. M-82 was hugely altered, it's outer arms stripped off, it's star clouds excited into producing stars and exploding others at a rate so dizzying that matter was ejected and continues pouring in spectacular particle wind driven jets. These have a red, flame-like appearance . . . . As a result, astronomers refer to M-82 as a starburst galaxy. . . . Etc.

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