Messier 81-82 (M81-M82): Bode’s Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy Mosaic
Nestled within the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear) lies a notable pair of galaxies: M81 and M82.
Messier 81 (on the left), also known as M81 or NGC 3031, is a grand design spiral galaxy located about 11.8 million light-years away. It’s one of the brightest galaxies visible from Earth and is characterized by its well-defined spiral arms extending from a bright central nucleus.
Messier 82 (on the right), also known as M82 or NGC 3034, is a starburst galaxy situated about 12 million light-years away. Unlike M81, M82 exhibits a highly irregular and distorted shape due to intense gravitational interactions with its neighbor, M81. This interaction has triggered vigorous star formation, making M82 one of the brightest infrared sources in the sky.
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