M 82
M 82
Forming a most conspicuous physical pair with its neighbor, M81 (THE showpiece galaxies for many Northern hemispherers), this galaxy is the prototype of an irregular of the second type, i.e. a "disk" irregular. Its core seems to have suffered dramatically from a semi-recent close encounter, being in a heavy starburst and displaying conspicuous dark lanes. This turbulent explosive gas flow is also a strong source of radio noise. The visual appearance is that of a silvery sliver, as John Mallas decribed it.
As a member of the M81 group, M82 is 11 million light years distant.
| Right ascension | 09 : 51.9 (hours : minutes) |
|---|---|
| Declination | +69 : 56 (degrees : minutes) |
| Distance | 7000.0 (light-years*10^3) |
| Visual magnitude | 8.8 |
