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Created the page with basic info on galaxy and its environment and structure
{{Night Sky
| image =
| designation =M-82
| rightascension =00<sup>h</sup> 55<sup>m</sup> 51<sup>s</sup>
| declination =+69° 40′ 43″
| constellation =Ursa Major
| type =spiral galaxy
| magnitude =8.41
| redshift =0.00073±0.00009
| distance =11.7 million light years
| radvelocity =203±4 km/s
| propmotion =
| parallax =
}}
The '''Cigar galaxy''' (M82, NGC 3034) is an [[galaxy]] in the [[constellation]] of Ursa Major and the M81 group, as well as the 82nd item in the Messier catalogue.<ref name=seds>[http://www.messier.seds.org/m/m082.html M82] from messier.seds.org</ref> It was first observed by Johann Elert Bode in 1774 and rediscovered by Pierre Mechain in 1779.<ref name=freeStarCharts>[https://freestarcharts.com/messier-82 Messier 82] from freestarcharts.com</ref> It is situated near to another galaxy, M81, making it a popular target for amateur astronomers. Its name comes from its elongated shape, which looks like a [[cigar]].
==Environment and Structure==
M82 was originally thought to be a type Irr II [[irregular galaxy]]. However, near-infrared photographs have shown two spiral arms.<ref name=constellation-guide>[http://www.constellation-guide.com/messier-82-cigar-galaxy/ Messier 82] from constellation-guide.com</ref> These had never been observed as the galaxy is viewed edge on from [[Earth]] and the arms are obscured by dust within the galaxy. In fact, it is the brightest galaxy in the night sky.<ref name=seds/>. It exhibits infrared excess, meaning that it emits more light in the infrared part of the [[electromagnetic spectrum|spectrum]] than in the visible. It is also classified as a starburst galaxy due to its incredibly high rate of star formation.
The Cigar galaxy is approximately 38,000 [[light year]]s across, contains many dust lanes and roughly 30 billion stars.<ref name=seds/> The [[Hubble Space Telescope]] has found over a 100 [[globular cluster]]s in the Cigar galaxy as well as 197 star forming regions.<ref name=seds/><ref name=constellation-guide/> Star formation is believed to be at least 10 times that of the [[Milky Way]]. Three [[supernova|supernovae]] have also be observed. The supernova SN2014J, a type 1a, was one of the brightest supernovae observed in recent decades, reaching an apparent magnitude of 10.9.<ref name=constellation-guide/>
M82 is situated about 150,000 light years from M81, also known as Bode's galaxy.<ref name=freeStarCharts/> The high volumes of star formation are due to tidal forces on M82, caused by its proximity to M81.
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Galaxies}}
[[Category:Astronomy]]
| image =
| designation =M-82
| rightascension =00<sup>h</sup> 55<sup>m</sup> 51<sup>s</sup>
| declination =+69° 40′ 43″
| constellation =Ursa Major
| type =spiral galaxy
| magnitude =8.41
| redshift =0.00073±0.00009
| distance =11.7 million light years
| radvelocity =203±4 km/s
| propmotion =
| parallax =
}}
The '''Cigar galaxy''' (M82, NGC 3034) is an [[galaxy]] in the [[constellation]] of Ursa Major and the M81 group, as well as the 82nd item in the Messier catalogue.<ref name=seds>[http://www.messier.seds.org/m/m082.html M82] from messier.seds.org</ref> It was first observed by Johann Elert Bode in 1774 and rediscovered by Pierre Mechain in 1779.<ref name=freeStarCharts>[https://freestarcharts.com/messier-82 Messier 82] from freestarcharts.com</ref> It is situated near to another galaxy, M81, making it a popular target for amateur astronomers. Its name comes from its elongated shape, which looks like a [[cigar]].
==Environment and Structure==
M82 was originally thought to be a type Irr II [[irregular galaxy]]. However, near-infrared photographs have shown two spiral arms.<ref name=constellation-guide>[http://www.constellation-guide.com/messier-82-cigar-galaxy/ Messier 82] from constellation-guide.com</ref> These had never been observed as the galaxy is viewed edge on from [[Earth]] and the arms are obscured by dust within the galaxy. In fact, it is the brightest galaxy in the night sky.<ref name=seds/>. It exhibits infrared excess, meaning that it emits more light in the infrared part of the [[electromagnetic spectrum|spectrum]] than in the visible. It is also classified as a starburst galaxy due to its incredibly high rate of star formation.
The Cigar galaxy is approximately 38,000 [[light year]]s across, contains many dust lanes and roughly 30 billion stars.<ref name=seds/> The [[Hubble Space Telescope]] has found over a 100 [[globular cluster]]s in the Cigar galaxy as well as 197 star forming regions.<ref name=seds/><ref name=constellation-guide/> Star formation is believed to be at least 10 times that of the [[Milky Way]]. Three [[supernova|supernovae]] have also be observed. The supernova SN2014J, a type 1a, was one of the brightest supernovae observed in recent decades, reaching an apparent magnitude of 10.9.<ref name=constellation-guide/>
M82 is situated about 150,000 light years from M81, also known as Bode's galaxy.<ref name=freeStarCharts/> The high volumes of star formation are due to tidal forces on M82, caused by its proximity to M81.
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Galaxies}}
[[Category:Astronomy]]