M82 · Cigar Galaxy
| Chinese name | 雪茄星系 |
|---|---|
| Type | Galaxy |
| Constellation | UMa |
| RA | 09h56m |
| Dec | +70° |
| Apparent magnitude | 8.4ᵐ |
| Hemisphere | Northern |
| Best season | Spring |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Focal length | 中焦 600–1000mm |
About
The Cigar Galaxy lies about 12 million light-years away in Ursa Major, one of the nearest starburst galaxies and the second-largest member of the M81 group. Gravitational interaction with the grand spiral M81 has triggered furious star formation, with the core forming stars roughly ten times faster than the entire Milky Way. From the center of its slim edge-on disk, red ionized-hydrogen outflows vent tens of thousands of light-years to either side, a galactic wind driven by supernovae and stellar winds. Hydrogen-alpha imaging highlights this spectacular red plume. Just over half a degree from M81, the two are often framed together, making it one of the most photogenic interacting galaxies.