OBJECT = 82
TELESCOPE = 17.5 inch f3.23
CAMERA = ST7-E
OBSERVER = Rusty Fletcher
LOCATION = Seguin Outdoor Learning Center
DATE (Yr-Mo-Dy) = 2004-12-10
TIME (UT) = 10:50:12
TOTAL EXPOSURE = 450 sec
IMAGES STACKED = 15
Irregular Galaxy M82 (NGC 3034) in Ursa Major
Forming a most conspicuous physical pair with its neighbor M81, this galaxy is the prototype of an irregular disk. Its core seems to have suffered dramatically from a recent close encounter with another galaxy. It displays a heavy amount of starburst and very 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 a member of the M81 group, M82 is 11 million light years distant.
M82 belongs to those few Messier objects which have been assigned a Herschel number, 79 H IV. William Herschel usually carefully avoided giving his numbers to Messier objects.
Right ascension 09 : 51.9 (hours : minutes)
Declination +69 : 56 (degrees : minutes)
Distance 11 million light years
Visual magnitude 8.8
