M82

Alt. Designations: NGC 3034, ARP 337
Object Type: Spiral Galaxy
Constellation: Ursa Major
Distance: 11.2 mly
Right Ascension: 09h 55m 54.0s
Declination: +69° 40´ 59"
Visual Magnitude: 8.4
Apparent Dimension: 11.2´ x 4.3´
Best Month To View: Mar

M82 is another member of the M81 group of galaxies found in the region of Ursa Major. This object is officially classified as an irregular galaxy. Its shape contains no discernable structure. It is believed that this galaxy's core has suffered from a close encounter with its neighbor, M81. The elongated shape of this galaxy has earned it the name Cigar Galaxy. M82 is a strong source of infrared radiation. In fact, it is the brightest galaxy in the sky in infrared light. This galaxy is located about 12 million light-years from Earth. Its close proximity to M81 makes it easy to find, although it is a somewhat disappointing sight in anything but the largest telescopes.