Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Ursa Major (UMa)  ·  Contains:  Bode's nebulae  ·  M 81  ·  M 82  ·  NGC 3031  ·  NGC 3034
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Galaxies M81 and M82, Steven Bellavia
Galaxies M81 and M82
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Galaxies M81 and M82

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Galaxies M81 and M82, Steven Bellavia
Galaxies M81 and M82
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Galaxies M81 and M82

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Description

Galaxies M81 and M82, located in Ursa Major at 12 million light years away, are interacting, via gravity. They are separated by 150,000 light years.

M81 (NGC 3031, also known as Bode's Nebula) is a spiral galaxy,with a diameter of 90,000 light years, about half the size of the Milky Way

M82 (NGC 3034, also known as the Cigar Galaxy) is a starburst galaxy. It is about five times more luminous than the whole Milky Way and has a center one hundred times more luminous than our galaxy's center. The starburst activity is thought to have been triggered by interaction with neighboring galaxy M81.

Messier 81 and Messier 82 can both be viewed easily using binoculars and small telescopes

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Galaxies M81 and M82, Steven Bellavia

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