Webb reveals a fiery starburst in the Cigar Galaxy — Space photo of the week

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The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed the blazing heart of an iconic nearby galaxy, where rapid star formation and galactic winds light up the cosmos in infrared light.

an image of the cigar galaxy
Despite being smaller than the Milky Way, the Cigar Galaxy outshines it. (Image credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, A. Bolatto via Getty Images)
Quick facts

What it is: M82, an edge-on spiral starburst galaxy

Where it is: 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major

When it was shared: Oct. 23, 2025

If you own a small backyard telescope, there's a good chance you've seen the Cigar Galaxy (M82) with your own eyes. Not only is it relatively close to the Milky Way and one of the brightest galaxies in the night sky, but it's visible beside Bode's Galaxy (M81). A spiral galaxy about four times smaller than the Milky Way, M82 shines five times more brightly and forms stars at 10 times the rate, earning it the title of a starburst galaxy.

M82's core is a busy place, containing more than 100 super star clusters, some still being born within dense gas clouds. Each super star cluster hosts hundreds of thousands of stars. The reason for M82's burst of star formation is probably its neighbor, M81, whose gravity it has likely interacted with. As a result, gas from M81 has found its way into M82's center, spurring an uptick in star formation despite the galaxy's small size.

Scientists can also see the glow from plumes of organic molecules in this image. The broad plumes, which are 160 light-years across, are called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and are being pushed away from the galactic disk by powerful outflowing winds produced by M82's super star clusters.

For stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere, M81 and M82 are a spectacular sight in the northern sky during fall and winter. Both galaxies can be spotted as small, diffuse patches of light northwest of Dubhe — the bright star marking the lip of the Big Dipper's bowl. Through a small backyard telescope, these two galaxies next door appear together in the same field of view.

For more sublime space images, check out our Space Photo of the Week archives.

Jamie Carter
Jamie Carter
Live Science contributor

Jamie Carter is a Cardiff, U.K.-based freelance science journalist and a regular contributor to Live Science. He is the author of A Stargazing Program For Beginners and co-author of The Eclipse Effect, and leads international stargazing and eclipse-chasing tours. His work appears regularly in Space.com, Forbes, New Scientist, BBC Sky at Night, Sky & Telescope, and other major science and astronomy publications. He is also the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com.

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