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Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026\r
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Alt text: Spectrum and image of galaxy M82\r
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Image description: This image is labeled, “XRISM Resolve Measures the Hot Wind of Starburst Galaxy M82.” It shows a graph where the bottom is labeled, “X-ray energy (keV),” with a range from 2 to 9. The left side is labeled “X-ray brightness.” A squiggly white line starts near the bottom of the left side. Several peaks are labeled, including silicon, sulfur, argon, and calcium. Four peaks are identified as iron. In the upper right corner, a small inset shows an image that looks like a purple pansy with a yellow center.", "items": [ { "id": 519609, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202713, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/v3_XRISM_Resolve_M82.jpg", "filename": "v3_XRISM_Resolve_M82.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The Resolve instrument aboard the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft captured data revealing the velocity of the hot wind at the center of starburst galaxy M82. The energy range of iron emission lines show that the gas moves around 2 million miles (about 3 million kilometers) per hour. Inset: XRISM Xtend instrument’s image of M82.\r\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026\r\rAlt text: Spectrum and image of galaxy M82\r\rImage description: This image is labeled, “XRISM Resolve Measures the Hot Wind of Starburst Galaxy M82.” It shows a graph where the bottom is labeled, “X-ray energy (keV),” with a range from 2 to 9. The left side is labeled “X-ray brightness.” A squiggly white line starts near the bottom of the left side. Several peaks are labeled, including silicon, sulfur, argon, and calcium. Four peaks are identified as iron. In the upper right corner, a small inset shows an image that looks like a purple pansy with a yellow center.", "width": 4412, "height": 2993, "pixels": 13205116 } }, { "id": 519610, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202714, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/v3_XRISM_Resolve_M82_searchweb.png", "filename": "v3_XRISM_Resolve_M82_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The Resolve instrument aboard the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft captured data revealing the velocity of the hot wind at the center of starburst galaxy M82. The energy range of iron emission lines show that the gas moves around 2 million miles (about 3 million kilometers) per hour. Inset: XRISM Xtend instrument’s image of M82.\r\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026\r\rAlt text: Spectrum and image of galaxy M82\r\rImage description: This image is labeled, “XRISM Resolve Measures the Hot Wind of Starburst Galaxy M82.” It shows a graph where the bottom is labeled, “X-ray energy (keV),” with a range from 2 to 9. The left side is labeled “X-ray brightness.” A squiggly white line starts near the bottom of the left side. Several peaks are labeled, including silicon, sulfur, argon, and calcium. Four peaks are identified as iron. In the upper right corner, a small inset shows an image that looks like a purple pansy with a yellow center.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 519611, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202715, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/v3_XRISM_Resolve_M82_thm.png", "filename": "v3_XRISM_Resolve_M82_thm.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The Resolve instrument aboard the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft captured data revealing the velocity of the hot wind at the center of starburst galaxy M82. The energy range of iron emission lines show that the gas moves around 2 million miles (about 3 million kilometers) per hour. Inset: XRISM Xtend instrument’s image of M82.\r\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026\r\rAlt text: Spectrum and image of galaxy M82\r\rImage description: This image is labeled, “XRISM Resolve Measures the Hot Wind of Starburst Galaxy M82.” It shows a graph where the bottom is labeled, “X-ray energy (keV),” with a range from 2 to 9. The left side is labeled “X-ray brightness.” A squiggly white line starts near the bottom of the left side. Several peaks are labeled, including silicon, sulfur, argon, and calcium. Four peaks are identified as iron. In the upper right corner, a small inset shows an image that looks like a purple pansy with a yellow center.", "width": 80, "height": 40, "pixels": 3200 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379938, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14968/#media_group_379938", "widget": "Basic text with HTML", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "For the first time, astronomers have directly measured the speed of superheated gas billowing from a cauldron of stellar activity at the heart of M82, a nearby galaxy undergoing an extraordinary burst of star formation.
The material is moving more than 2 million miles (over 3 million kilometers) per hour and appears to be the primary force driving a cooler, well-studied, galaxy-scale wind.
Researchers made the calculations using data from the Resolve instrument aboard the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft.
M82, also called the Cigar galaxy, is located 12 million light-years away in the northern constellation Ursa Major. Astronomers classify it as a starburst galaxy because it’s forming stars at a much higher rate than typical for its size — about 10 times faster than the Milky Way.
In astronomy, M82 is well known for its extended, cool wind, which stretches out to 40,000 light-years and propels huge quantities of gas and dust. Scientists have studied it with many missions, including NASA’s Chandra, Webb, Hubble, and retired Spitzer space telescopes, trying to connect the dots between the stellar activity and the large-scale outflow.
Researchers particularly want to understand the role of cosmic rays. These high-speed charged particles are found throughout the cosmos and are accelerated by some of the same events scientists think produce winds like in M82. There’s a possibility they are a main source of outward pressure on the gas.
Resolve’s high resolution and sensitivity allowed scientists to accurately measure the speed of the hot wind by looking at an X-ray signal from superheated iron in the galactic center.
The amount of X-ray light from iron and other elements told them the temperature — right within predictions at 45 million degrees Fahrenheit (25 million degrees Celsius). The heat exerts pressure on the gas and pushes it outward. This rushing from high pressure to low pressure forms the wind — the same reason winds blow through Earth’s atmosphere.
The broadness of the iron spectral lines conveyed the hot wind’s speed. This works through Doppler shifting, the same phenomenon that causes the pitch of a sound, like a siren, to rise or fall due to the source’s motion toward or away from you. In the case of M82, the hot material near the center flies quickly in both directions, stretching out the iron spectral line. The amount of stretching reveals the iron’s velocity. The researchers found that the wind is a little faster than expected. Combined with the high temperature, it’s powerful enough to produce the cool wind without cosmic rays, although they may still be contributing.
The researchers calculate that the center of M82 expels enough gas every year to form seven stars with the mass of our Sun.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379847, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14968/#media_group_379847", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "The Xtend instrument aboard XRISM captured this image of M82. \r
Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026\r
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Alt text: Image of galaxy M82\r
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Image description: In this X-ray image, the M82 galaxy looks like a purple pansy with a yellow center. Two black lines run through the top and bottom of the pansy. ", "items": [ { "id": 519535, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202445, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/M82_Xtend.png", "filename": "M82_Xtend.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The Xtend instrument aboard XRISM captured this image of M82. \rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026\r\rAlt text: Image of galaxy M82\r\rImage description: In this X-ray image, the M82 galaxy looks like a purple pansy with a yellow center. Two black lines run through the top and bottom of the pansy. ", "width": 1754, "height": 1574, "pixels": 2760796 } }, { "id": 519612, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202716, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/M82_Xtend_print.jpg", "filename": "M82_Xtend_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The Xtend instrument aboard XRISM captured this image of M82. \rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026\r\rAlt text: Image of galaxy M82\r\rImage description: In this X-ray image, the M82 galaxy looks like a purple pansy with a yellow center. Two black lines run through the top and bottom of the pansy. ", "width": 1024, "height": 918, "pixels": 940032 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379848, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14968/#media_group_379848", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "The cool wind of galaxy M82 drives gas and dust up to 40,000 light-years from its core, as shown here using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. The inset shows a Chandra view of the galaxy’s central region, where a cauldron of stellar activity kick-starts the larger-scale outflow. \r
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Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/JHU/D.Strickland; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI/AURA/The Hubble Heritage Team; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of AZ/C. Engelbracht; XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026 \r
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Alt text: Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer image of M82 with Chandra inset\r
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Image description: This image shows observations from NASA’s Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer missions of the starburst galaxy M82. An angled disk, green at the edges and yellowish white toward the center, shows the plane of the galaxy. Extending above and below are clouds of purple and red. An inset, pointing towards the galactic center, shows a yellow-orange blob surrounding by swirling purple. It’s labeled, “Chandra X-ray.” The larger image is labeled, “Chandra/Hubble/Spitzer X-ray/Optical/Infrared.”", "items": [ { "id": 519541, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202389, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/M82_Chandra_1kpc_Inset_labels.jpg", "filename": "M82_Chandra_1kpc_Inset_labels.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The cool wind of galaxy M82 drives gas and dust up to 40,000 light-years from its core, as shown here using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. The inset shows a Chandra view of the galaxy’s central region, where a cauldron of stellar activity kick-starts the larger-scale outflow. \r\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/JHU/D.Strickland; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI/AURA/The Hubble Heritage Team; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of AZ/C. Engelbracht; XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026 \r\rAlt text: Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer image of M82 with Chandra inset\r\rImage description: This image shows observations from NASA’s Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer missions of the starburst galaxy M82. An angled disk, green at the edges and yellowish white toward the center, shows the plane of the galaxy. Extending above and below are clouds of purple and red. An inset, pointing towards the galactic center, shows a yellow-orange blob surrounding by swirling purple. It’s labeled, “Chandra X-ray.” The larger image is labeled, “Chandra/Hubble/Spitzer X-ray/Optical/Infrared.”", "width": 3000, "height": 2250, "pixels": 6750000 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379849, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14968/#media_group_379849", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Unlabeled version of the above\r
Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/JHU/D.Strickland; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI/AURA/The Hubble Heritage Team; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of AZ/C. Engelbracht; XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026 \r
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Alt text: Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer image of M82 with Chandra inset\r
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Image description: This image shows observations from NASA’s Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer missions of the starburst galaxy M82. An angled disk, green at the edges and yellowish white toward the center, shows the plane of the galaxy. Extending above and below are clouds of purple and red. And inset, pointing towards the galactic center, shows a yellow-orange blob surrounding by swirling purple. ", "items": [ { "id": 519544, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202390, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/M82_Chandra_1kpc_Inset_Unlabeled.jpg", "filename": "M82_Chandra_1kpc_Inset_Unlabeled.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Unlabeled version of the above\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/JHU/D.Strickland; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI/AURA/The Hubble Heritage Team; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of AZ/C. Engelbracht; XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026 \r\rAlt text: Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer image of M82 with Chandra inset\r\rImage description: This image shows observations from NASA’s Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer missions of the starburst galaxy M82. An angled disk, green at the edges and yellowish white toward the center, shows the plane of the galaxy. Extending above and below are clouds of purple and red. And inset, pointing towards the galactic center, shows a yellow-orange blob surrounding by swirling purple. ", "width": 3000, "height": 2250, "pixels": 6750000 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379867, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14968/#media_group_379867", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Unlabeled version of the above, without inset. Find more versions and information about M82 at science.nasa.gov\r
Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/JHU/D.Strickland; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI/AURA/The Hubble Heritage Team\r
Alt text: Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer image of M82\r
Image description: This image shows observations from NASA’s Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer missions of the starburst galaxy M82. An angled disk, green at the edges and yellowish white toward the center, shows the plane of the galaxy. Extending above and below are clouds of purple and red.\r
", "items": [ { "id": 519547, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202391, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/M82_Only.jpg", "filename": "M82_Only.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Unlabeled version of the above, without inset. Find more versions and information about M82 at science.nasa.gov\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/JHU/D.Strickland; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI/AURA/The Hubble Heritage Team\rAlt text: Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer image of M82\rImage description: This image shows observations from NASA’s Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer missions of the starburst galaxy M82. An angled disk, green at the edges and yellowish white toward the center, shows the plane of the galaxy. Extending above and below are clouds of purple and red.\r", "width": 3000, "height": 2250, "pixels": 6750000 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379868, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14968/#media_group_379868", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This Chandra image shows M82’s central region, where a cauldron of stellar activity kick-starts the larger-scale outflow. \r
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Credit: NASA/CXC/JHU/XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026 \r
Alt text: Chandra image of M82\r
Image description: This X-ray image has a bright yellow blob with an orange outline at the center. Several other yellow-orange dots are scattered across the image. Bright purple surrounds the central blob, gradually getting darker toward the edge of the image.", "items": [ { "id": 519548, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202387, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/m82_chandra_2000eV_10000eV_1x1kpc.png", "filename": "m82_chandra_2000eV_10000eV_1x1kpc.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This Chandra image shows M82’s central region, where a cauldron of stellar activity kick-starts the larger-scale outflow. \r\rCredit: NASA/CXC/JHU/XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026 \rAlt text: Chandra image of M82\rImage description: This X-ray image has a bright yellow blob with an orange outline at the center. Several other yellow-orange dots are scattered across the image. Bright purple surrounds the central blob, gradually getting darker toward the edge of the image.", "width": 978, "height": 978, "pixels": 956484 } }, { "id": 519549, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202388, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/m82_chandra_2000eV_10000eV_1x1kpc.jpg", "filename": "m82_chandra_2000eV_10000eV_1x1kpc.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This Chandra image shows M82’s central region, where a cauldron of stellar activity kick-starts the larger-scale outflow. \r\rCredit: NASA/CXC/JHU/XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026 \rAlt text: Chandra image of M82\rImage description: This X-ray image has a bright yellow blob with an orange outline at the center. Several other yellow-orange dots are scattered across the image. Bright purple surrounds the central blob, gradually getting darker toward the edge of the image.", "width": 978, "height": 978, "pixels": 956484 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379935, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14968/#media_group_379935", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This animation shows the difference between iron-25’s spectral line in a laboratory setting compared to XRISM’s observations from the center of M82. The M82 line is broader than the lab version due to Doppler shifting, which is the same phenomenon that causes the pitch of a sound to rise or fall due to the source’s motion toward or away from you. In the case of M82, the hot material near the center flies quickly in both directions, stretching out the iron’s spectral line. The amount of stretch tells scientists the iron’s velocity. \r
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Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026\r
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Alt text: Animation of iron spectral broadening\r
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Image description: This animation begins on a graph of a white line against a background of swirling purple, green, and yellow — an image of the central part of M82. The white line has several jagged peaks in the middle and is labeled, “Iron-25 line/Lab reference.” The horizontal and vertical axes are labeled “X-ray energy” and “X-ray brightness,” respectively. After a moment, the graph blurs and shifts, broadening so that the jagged peaks turn into one larger curve with a small dip at the top. The line label changes to “Iron-25 line/M82 observed.” The graph shifts back and forth one more time before ending. ", "items": [ { "id": 519517, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202680, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/M82_Fe25_forever.gif", "filename": "M82_Fe25_forever.gif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This animation shows the difference between iron-25’s spectral line in a laboratory setting compared to XRISM’s observations from the center of M82. The M82 line is broader than the lab version due to Doppler shifting, which is the same phenomenon that causes the pitch of a sound to rise or fall due to the source’s motion toward or away from you. In the case of M82, the hot material near the center flies quickly in both directions, stretching out the iron’s spectral line. The amount of stretch tells scientists the iron’s velocity. \r\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026\r\rAlt text: Animation of iron spectral broadening\r\rImage description: This animation begins on a graph of a white line against a background of swirling purple, green, and yellow — an image of the central part of M82. The white line has several jagged peaks in the middle and is labeled, “Iron-25 line/Lab reference.” The horizontal and vertical axes are labeled “X-ray energy” and “X-ray brightness,” respectively. After a moment, the graph blurs and shifts, broadening so that the jagged peaks turn into one larger curve with a small dip at the top. The line label changes to “Iron-25 line/M82 observed.” The graph shifts back and forth one more time before ending. ", "width": 625, "height": 430, "pixels": 268750 } }, { "id": 519516, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202679, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/Lab_Fe25_reference.jpg", "filename": "Lab_Fe25_reference.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This animation shows the difference between iron-25’s spectral line in a laboratory setting compared to XRISM’s observations from the center of M82. The M82 line is broader than the lab version due to Doppler shifting, which is the same phenomenon that causes the pitch of a sound to rise or fall due to the source’s motion toward or away from you. In the case of M82, the hot material near the center flies quickly in both directions, stretching out the iron’s spectral line. The amount of stretch tells scientists the iron’s velocity. \r\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026\r\rAlt text: Animation of iron spectral broadening\r\rImage description: This animation begins on a graph of a white line against a background of swirling purple, green, and yellow — an image of the central part of M82. The white line has several jagged peaks in the middle and is labeled, “Iron-25 line/Lab reference.” The horizontal and vertical axes are labeled “X-ray energy” and “X-ray brightness,” respectively. After a moment, the graph blurs and shifts, broadening so that the jagged peaks turn into one larger curve with a small dip at the top. The line label changes to “Iron-25 line/M82 observed.” The graph shifts back and forth one more time before ending. ", "width": 2053, "height": 1473, "pixels": 3024069 } }, { "id": 519518, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202681, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/M82_Fe25_observed.jpg", "filename": "M82_Fe25_observed.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This animation shows the difference between iron-25’s spectral line in a laboratory setting compared to XRISM’s observations from the center of M82. The M82 line is broader than the lab version due to Doppler shifting, which is the same phenomenon that causes the pitch of a sound to rise or fall due to the source’s motion toward or away from you. In the case of M82, the hot material near the center flies quickly in both directions, stretching out the iron’s spectral line. The amount of stretch tells scientists the iron’s velocity. \r\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026\r\rAlt text: Animation of iron spectral broadening\r\rImage description: This animation begins on a graph of a white line against a background of swirling purple, green, and yellow — an image of the central part of M82. The white line has several jagged peaks in the middle and is labeled, “Iron-25 line/Lab reference.” The horizontal and vertical axes are labeled “X-ray energy” and “X-ray brightness,” respectively. After a moment, the graph blurs and shifts, broadening so that the jagged peaks turn into one larger curve with a small dip at the top. The line label changes to “Iron-25 line/M82 observed.” The graph shifts back and forth one more time before ending. ", "width": 2053, "height": 1473, "pixels": 3024069 } }, { "id": 519519, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202682, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/m82_Fe25_line.mp4", "filename": "m82_Fe25_line.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This animation shows the difference between iron-25’s spectral line in a laboratory setting compared to XRISM’s observations from the center of M82. The M82 line is broader than the lab version due to Doppler shifting, which is the same phenomenon that causes the pitch of a sound to rise or fall due to the source’s motion toward or away from you. In the case of M82, the hot material near the center flies quickly in both directions, stretching out the iron’s spectral line. The amount of stretch tells scientists the iron’s velocity. \r\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026\r\rAlt text: Animation of iron spectral broadening\r\rImage description: This animation begins on a graph of a white line against a background of swirling purple, green, and yellow — an image of the central part of M82. The white line has several jagged peaks in the middle and is labeled, “Iron-25 line/Lab reference.” The horizontal and vertical axes are labeled “X-ray energy” and “X-ray brightness,” respectively. After a moment, the graph blurs and shifts, broadening so that the jagged peaks turn into one larger curve with a small dip at the top. The line label changes to “Iron-25 line/M82 observed.” The graph shifts back and forth one more time before ending. ", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379936, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14968/#media_group_379936", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "On Earth, M82’s hot winds would sweep across the entire United States in just 5 seconds, as shown in this animation. \r
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Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center\r
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Alt text: GIF of M82’s wind speed\r
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Image description: Yellow arrows move west to east over a purple map of the United States in this looping GIF. In the bottom-left corner is a stopwatch, also in shades of purple, showing that it takes an arrow 5 seconds to move across the map. The top of the animation has blue text that says, “If M82’s winds were on Earth …”", "items": [ { "id": 519520, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202683, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/M82_wind_speed_USA.gif", "filename": "M82_wind_speed_USA.gif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "On Earth, M82’s hot winds would sweep across the entire United States in just 5 seconds, as shown in this animation. \r\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center\r\rAlt text: GIF of M82’s wind speed\r\rImage description: Yellow arrows move west to east over a purple map of the United States in this looping GIF. In the bottom-left corner is a stopwatch, also in shades of purple, showing that it takes an arrow 5 seconds to move across the map. The top of the animation has blue text that says, “If M82’s winds were on Earth …”", "width": 800, "height": 511, "pixels": 408800 } }, { "id": 519521, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202684, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/M82_wind_speed_USA.mp4", "filename": "M82_wind_speed_USA.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "On Earth, M82’s hot winds would sweep across the entire United States in just 5 seconds, as shown in this animation. \r\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center\r\rAlt text: GIF of M82’s wind speed\r\rImage description: Yellow arrows move west to east over a purple map of the United States in this looping GIF. In the bottom-left corner is a stopwatch, also in shades of purple, showing that it takes an arrow 5 seconds to move across the map. The top of the animation has blue text that says, “If M82’s winds were on Earth …”", "width": 3376, "height": 2160, "pixels": 7292160 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379937, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14968/#media_group_379937", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This image of M82, captured by the Near-Infrared Camera aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, shows the center of the galaxy in such detail that astronomers can distinguish small bright sources that are either individual stars or star clusters. \r
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Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Alberto Bolatto (UMD)\r
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Alt text: Webb image of M82\r
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Image description: This infrared image shows a section of the M82 as imaged by NASA's Webb telescope. The galaxy is seen edge-on, tilted at a 45-degree angle. It has a bright line of yellowish white glowing at its core and dark brown tendrils of dust stretch along its length. Many white dots of various sizes — stars or star clusters — are scattered throughout the image but are most heavily concentrated toward the center. The whole galaxy is set against the black backdrop of space. ", "items": [ { "id": 519522, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202685, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/Webb_M82.jpg", "filename": "Webb_M82.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This image of M82, captured by the Near-Infrared Camera aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, shows the center of the galaxy in such detail that astronomers can distinguish small bright sources that are either individual stars or star clusters. \r\rCredit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Alberto Bolatto (UMD)\r\rAlt text: Webb image of M82\r\rImage description: This infrared image shows a section of the M82 as imaged by NASA's Webb telescope. The galaxy is seen edge-on, tilted at a 45-degree angle. It has a bright line of yellowish white glowing at its core and dark brown tendrils of dust stretch along its length. Many white dots of various sizes — stars or star clusters — are scattered throughout the image but are most heavily concentrated toward the center. The whole galaxy is set against the black backdrop of space. ", "width": 2160, "height": 2146, "pixels": 4635360 } }, { "id": 519523, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1202686, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/Webb_M82.png", "filename": "Webb_M82.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This image of M82, captured by the Near-Infrared Camera aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, shows the center of the galaxy in such detail that astronomers can distinguish small bright sources that are either individual stars or star clusters. \r\rCredit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Alberto Bolatto (UMD)\r\rAlt text: Webb image of M82\r\rImage description: This infrared image shows a section of the M82 as imaged by NASA's Webb telescope. The galaxy is seen edge-on, tilted at a 45-degree angle. It has a bright line of yellowish white glowing at its core and dark brown tendrils of dust stretch along its length. Many white dots of various sizes — stars or star clusters — are scattered throughout the image but are most heavily concentrated toward the center. The whole galaxy is set against the black backdrop of space. ", "width": 2160, "height": 2146, "pixels": 4635360 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379946, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14968/#media_group_379946", "widget": "Basic text", "title": "For More Information", "caption": "", "description": "See [https://science.nasa.gov/missions/xrism/nasa-jaxas-xrism-telescope-clocks-hot-wind-of-galaxy-m82/](https://science.nasa.gov/missions/xrism/nasa-jaxas-xrism-telescope-clocks-hot-wind-of-galaxy-m82/)", "items": [], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "gms", "funding_sources": [ "NASA Astrophysics" ], "credits": [ { "role": "Producer", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "eMITS" } ] }, { "role": "Science writer", "people": [ { "name": "Jeanette Kazmierczak", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" }, { "name": "Francis Reddy", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ] }, { "role": "Graphics", "people": [ { "name": "Francis Reddy", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ] } ], "missions": [ "XRISM" ], "series": [ "Astrophysics Features", "Astrophysics Stills" ], "tapes": [], "papers": [ "A fast starburst wind consumes most of the energy from supernovae" ], "datasets": [], "nasa_science_categories": [ "Universe" ], "keywords": [ "Ast", "Astrophysics", "Chandra", "Galaxy", "Hubble Space Telescope", "Space", "Supernova", "Universe", "Webb Telescope", "X-ray", "XRISM" ], "recommended_pages": [], "related": [ { "id": 14933, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14933/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "XRISM Finds Elemental Bounty in Supernova Remnant", "description": "Observations of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant by the Resolve instrument aboard the NASA-JAXA XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft revealed strong evidence for potassium (green squares) in the southeast and northern parts of the remnant. Grids superposed on a multiwavelength image of the remnant represent the fields of view of two Resolve measurements made in December 2023. Each square represents one pixel of Resolve’s detector. Weaker evidence of potassium (yellow squares) in the west suggests that the original star may have had underlying asymmetries before it exploded. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. ArcandAlt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant with the XRISM Resolve fields of viewImage description: Supernova remnant Cassiopeia A appears as a large circular object outlined by electric blue filaments, set against a black background. Strings of vibrant colors weave throughout, with blue representing Chandra data, red, green, and blue representing Webb data, and Hubble data showing a multitude of stars that dot the view. Two nearly square grids are laid on top of the remnant slightly overlapping. The upper grid has six squares filled yellow, representing weaker evidence for potassium. In the opposite corner of that grid, five squares are filled green, representing a positive potassium detection. The lower grid has six boxes filled green in a wide M-like shape. The image is labeled “North” at the top center, “West” on the right, and “Southeast” to the left. || cas_a_with_resolve_1.png (800x645) [96.7 KB] || cas_a_with_resolve_1_print.jpg (1024x825) [125.5 KB] || cas_a_with_resolve_1_searchweb.png (320x180) [120.5 KB] || cas_a_with_resolve_1_web.png (320x258) [161.2 KB] || cas_a_with_resolve_1_thm.png (80x40) [7.6 KB] || ", "release_date": "2025-12-04T09:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-12-04T09:50:10-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1159933, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014933/cas_a_with_resolve_1_print.jpg", "filename": "cas_a_with_resolve_1_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Observations of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant by the Resolve instrument aboard the NASA-JAXA XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft revealed strong evidence for potassium (green squares) in the southeast and northern parts of the remnant. Grids superposed on a multiwavelength image of the remnant represent the fields of view of two Resolve measurements made in December 2023. Each square represents one pixel of Resolve’s detector. Weaker evidence of potassium (yellow squares) in the west suggests that the original star may have had underlying asymmetries before it exploded. \rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. Arcand\rAlt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant with the XRISM Resolve fields of view\rImage description: Supernova remnant Cassiopeia A appears as a large circular object outlined by electric blue filaments, set against a black background. Strings of vibrant colors weave throughout, with blue representing Chandra data, red, green, and blue representing Webb data, and Hubble data showing a multitude of stars that dot the view. Two nearly square grids are laid on top of the remnant slightly overlapping. The upper grid has six squares filled yellow, representing weaker evidence for potassium. In the opposite corner of that grid, five squares are filled green, representing a positive potassium detection. The lower grid has six boxes filled green in a wide M-like shape. The image is labeled “North” at the top center, “West” on the right, and “Southeast” to the left.", "width": 1024, "height": 825, "pixels": 844800 } }, { "id": 14868, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14868/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "XRISM Satellite X-rays Milky Way’s Sulfur in Detail", "description": "An international team of scientists have provided an unprecedented tally of elemental sulfur spread between the stars using data from the Japan-led XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft.Astronomers used X-rays from two binary star systems to detect sulfur in the interstellar medium, the gas and dust found in the space between stars. It’s the first direct measurement of both sulfur’s gas and solid phases, a unique capability of X-ray spectroscopy, XRISM’s (pronounced “crism”) primary method of studying the cosmos.Using ultraviolet light, researchers have found gaseous sulfur in the space between stars. In denser parts of the interstellar medium, such as the molecular clouds where stars and planets are born, this form of sulfur quickly disappears.Scientists assume the sulfur condenses into a solid, either by combining with ice or mixing with other elements.When a doctor performs an X-ray here on Earth, they place the patient between an X-ray source and a detector. Bone and tissue absorb different amounts of the light as it travels through the patient's body, creating contrast in the detector.Scientists did something similar by picking a portion of the interstellar medium with the right density — not so thin that all the X-rays would pass through unchanged, but also not so dense that they would all be absorbed.Then they selected a bright X-ray source behind that section of the medium, a binary star system called GX 340+0 located over 35,000 light-years away in the southern constellation Scorpius.Using the Resolve instrument on XRISM, the researchers were able to measure the energy of GX 340+0’s X-rays and determined that sulfur was present not only as a gas, but also as a solid, possibly mixed with iron.Iron-sulfur compounds are often found in meteorites, so scientists have long thought they might be one way sulfur solidifies out of molecular clouds to travel through the universe. XRISM’s observations could match a few of these compounds — pyrrhotite, troilite, and pyrite, which is sometimes called fool’s gold.The researchers were also able to use measurements from a second X-ray binary called 4U 1630-472 that helped confirm their findings. || ", "release_date": "2025-07-23T00:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2025-07-23T11:18:33-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1157083, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014868/GX_340+0_DECaPS_print.jpg", "filename": "GX_340+0_DECaPS_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This composite shows a section of the interstellar medium scientists X-rayed for sulfur using the Japan-led XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission). X-ray binary GX 340+0 is the blue dot in the center. The composite contains a blend of imagery in X-rays (represented in deep blue), infrared, and light.Credit: DSS/DECaPS/eRosita/NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterAlt text: Optical, infrared, and X-ray composite image of a portion of the interstellar gas and dust with an X-ray source at the centerImage description: A bright blue dot is at the center of this star field. Yellow, red, blue, and white dots speckle the rest of the image, some buried in green-tinted swirls of dust.", "width": 1024, "height": 603, "pixels": 617472 } }, { "id": 14707, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14707/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "XRISM's Resolve Instrument Gazes into Cygnus X-3", "description": "Cygnus X-3 is a high-mass X-ray binary system consisting of a compact object (likely a black hole) and a Wolf-Rayet star. This artist's concept shows one interpretation of the system. High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy indicates two gas components: a heavy background outflow, or wind, produced by the massive star and a turbulent structure — perhaps a wake carved into the wind — located close to the orbiting companion. As shown here, a black hole's gravity captures some of the wind into an accretion disk around it, and the disk's orbital motion sculpts a path (yellow arc) through the streaming gas. During strong outbursts, the companion emits jets of particles moving near the speed of light, seen here extending above and below the black hole.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterAlt text: Illustration of the Cygnus X-3 systemImage description: On a cloudy reddish background, a bright blue-white circle — a representation of a hot, bright, massive star — sits near the center. Wisps of blue-white border its edges, and many lines of similar color radiate from it. In the foreground at about 4 o’clock lies a yellowish ring with a black hole in its center. From the ring trails a diffuse yellow arc, sweeping from right to left and exiting at the bottom of the illustration. Extending above and below the black hole are two blue-white triangles representing particle jets. || Cyg_X-3_illustration_4K.jpg (3840x2160) [505.1 KB] || Cyg_X-3_illustration_4K_print.jpg (1024x576) [58.5 KB] || Cyg_X-3_illustration_4K_searchweb.png (320x180) [64.7 KB] || Cyg_X-3_illustration_4K_web.png (320x180) [64.7 KB] || Cyg_X-3_illustration_4K_thm.png (80x40) [6.1 KB] || ", "release_date": "2024-11-25T11:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-01-21T16:25:27-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1103695, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014707/Cyg_X3_spectrum_sml.png", "filename": "Cyg_X3_spectrum_sml.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "XRISM’s Resolve instrument has captured the most detailed X-ray spectrum yet acquired of Cygnus X-3. Peaks indicate X-rays emitted by ionized gases, and valleys form where the gases absorb X-rays; many lines are also shifted to both higher and lower energies by gas motions. Top: The full Resolve spectrum, from 2 to 8 keV (kiloelectron volts), tracks X-rays with thousands of times the energy of visible light. Some lines are labeled with the names of the elements that produced them, such as sulfur, argon, and calcium, along with Roman numerals that refer to the number of electrons these atoms have lost. Bottom: A zoom into a region of the spectrum often dominated by features produced by transitions in the innermost electron shell (K shell) of iron atoms. These features form when the atoms interact with high-energy X-rays or electrons and respond by emitting a photon at energies between 6.4 and 7 keV. These details, clearly visible for the first time with XRISM’s Resolve instrument, will help astronomers refine their understanding of this unusual system.Credit: JAXA/NASA/XRISM CollaborationAlt text: XRISM Resolve X-ray spectrum of Cygnus X-3 Image description: Two graphs appear on a dark blue background. The text at the top reads “XRISM Resolve Spectrum of Cygnus X-3.” The top graph, which takes up the upper third of the image, has a lighter blue background that darkens from top to bottom, an even brighter squiggly line that arcs across the graph, and yellow text such as “Sulfur XV” and Calcium XX.” X-ray brightness increases from bottom to top, and X-ray energy (measured in thousands of electron volts, or keV) increases from left to right. An orange box labeled “Area of detail” surrounds a series of peaks and valleys near the right end and identifies the region shown in the bottom graph. The lower chart is labeled “Iron K-alpha region” and shows prominent emission and absorption features produced by iron. ", "width": 1028, "height": 800, "pixels": 822400 } }, { "id": 14584, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14584/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "XRISM Spots Iron Fingerprints in Nearby Active Galaxy", "description": "The Resolve instrument aboard XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) captured data from the center of galaxy NGC 4151, where a supermassive black hole is slowly consuming material from the surrounding accretion disk. The resulting spectrum reveals the presence of iron in the peak around 6.5 keV and the dips around 7 keV, light thousands of times more energetic that what our eyes can see. Background: An image of NGC 4151 constructed from a combination of X-ray, optical, and radio light. Credit: Spectrum: JAXA/NASA/XRISM Resolve. Background: X-rays, NASA/CXC/CfA/J.Wang et al.; optical, Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes, La Palma/Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope; radio, NSF/NRAO/VLAAlt text: A XRISM spectrum of NGC 4151 with a multiwavelength snapshot of the galaxy in the background. Descriptive text: The spectrum image is labeled, “XRISM Resolve Spectrum of NGC 4151.” It shows a graph where the bottom is labeled, “X-ray energy (keV),” with a range from 5 to 9. The left side is labeled, “X-ray brightness.” A squiggly white line starts just under halfway up the left side. It peaks at just under 6.5 keV, nearly reaching the top of the graph. Then it starts to slope gently downward, with several sharp dips around 7 keV. In the background is a dim image of galaxy NGC 4151, where the center is a whiteish blue, surrounding by clouds of red and yellow. || Spectrum_v4.jpg (2300x2050) [426.6 KB] || ", "release_date": "2024-05-08T09:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2024-05-08T09:26:33-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1091980, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014500/a014584/Blazar.00550_print.jpg", "filename": "Blazar.00550_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Same as the above, but without labels. \rCredit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab\r", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }