M82 is an edge-on spiral galaxy undergoing a massive burst of star formation in its core. It is notable for its cigar-like shape and intense starburst activity, which is believed to have been triggered by a close encounter with its neighboring galaxy, M81. The galaxy exhibits prominent dust lanes and gas outflows, visible as reddish filaments extending perpendicular to its disk. M82’s unique appearance and proximity make it a popular target for amateur astrophotographers, especially when imaged alongside its companion, M81.
Names and Catalog numbers
- Cigar Galaxy
- Messier 82 (M82)
- NGC 3034
- UGC 5322
- PGC 28655
- ARP 337
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
M82 is part of the M81 Group, a group of galaxies in the constellation Ursa Major. It is often photographed together with its larger companion, M81 (Bode’s Galaxy), as they form a visually striking pair in the night sky. The two galaxies are separated by about 130,000 light-years and show signs of past gravitational interactions, which have likely contributed to M82’s starburst activity.
Nice to Know
- M82 is classified as a starburst galaxy, with a rate of star formation in its central region about 10 times higher than in our Milky Way.
- The galaxy exhibits prominent hydrogen-alpha regions, which can be captured using specialized filters in astrophotography.
- M82 has a superwind of hot gas extending thousands of light-years above and below its disk, visible in X-ray and radio observations.
- Despite its edge-on orientation, advanced amateur astrophotographers can reveal intricate details of the galaxy’s structure and outflows with sufficient exposure time and proper processing techniques.
Brightness, distance and size
M82 has an apparent magnitude of 8.41, making it visible in small telescopes under dark sky conditions. Located approximately 12 million light-years away, the galaxy spans about 37,000 light-years in diameter. In the night sky, M82 appears as an elongated object with an angular size of about 11.2 x 4.3 arcminutes, showcasing its distinctive cigar-like shape.
