Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Ursa Major (UMa)  ·  Contains:  Bode's Galaxy  ·  Cigar Galaxy  ·  M 81  ·  M 82  ·  NGC 3031  ·  NGC 3034
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M81, M82 Mosiac (HaLRGB), Jim Thommes
M81, M82 Mosiac (HaLRGB), Jim Thommes

M81, M82 Mosiac (HaLRGB)

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M81, M82 Mosiac (HaLRGB), Jim Thommes
M81, M82 Mosiac (HaLRGB), Jim Thommes

M81, M82 Mosiac (HaLRGB)

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Description

 M81 (SA(s)ab) is 11.8 million light years distant and M82 (I0 edge-on) is 12.1 million light years - M82 is also known as ARP 337. Five galaxies in this image have similar distances and radial velocities that put them into common groups  (M81, M82, LEDA 28759, PGC 28529, and UGC 5336). Two  groups contain all five as members  ([TSK2008] 217 and [T2015] nest 101368).  There are a number of background galaxies and quasars (or candidates) in this field as well. Many of these are small or faint and can only be seen in the full size image. The furthest quasar visible in this image is SDSS J095752.57+693227.6 -  it has a redshift of 3.400 and a light travel time of 11.83 billion years (lookback). These objects and some of the brighter stars are identified in the annotated image. This is a 2 panel mosaic.

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