Observation by Ian Rothwell: M81/M82

Uploaded by

Ian Rothwell

Observer

Ian Rothwell

Observed

2017 Dec 09 - 06:11

Uploaded

2017 Dec 09 - 16:26

Objects

M81
M82

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Constellation

Ursa Major

Field centre

RA: 09h57m
Dec: +69°12'
Position angle: +8°00'

Field size

1°42' × 1°08'

Equipment
  • Canon 450D DSLR (IR filter mod)
  • Skywatcher Explorer 150P on EQ5-Pro
  • Astrononik UHC Clip filter
Location

Bournemouth

Target name

M81/M82

Title

M81/M82

About this image

Took this at the end of my observing session. Uma was at the zenith. Quite pleased with the results. It also shows NGC3077 at the bottom-left of the image.

M81 is a spiral galaxy about 12 million light-years away, in the constellation Ursa Major. Due to its proximity to Earth, large size, and active galactic nucleus, Messier 81 has been studied extensively by professional astronomers. 

Magnitude6.94

M82 (also known as NGC 3034 or the Cigar Galaxy) is a starburst galaxy about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. A member of the M81 Group, 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. As the closest starburst galaxy to Earth, M82 is the prototypical example of this galaxy type SN 2014J, a type Ia supernova, was discovered in the galaxy on 21 January 2014. In 2014, in studying M82, scientists discovered the brightest pulsar yet known, designated M82 X-2.

Magnitude8.4

 

NGC3077 is a small galaxy, a member of the M81 Group, which is located in the northern constellation Ursa Major. Despite looking much like an elliptical galaxy, it is peculiar for two reasons. First, it shows wispy edges and scattered dust clouds that are probably a result of gravitational interaction with its larger neighbors, similar to the galaxy M82. Second, this galaxy has an active nucleus. This caused Carl Seyfert in 1943 to include it in his list of galaxies, which are now called Seyfert Galaxies. However, NGC 3077, though an emission line galaxy, is today no longer classified as a Seyfert galaxy.

Magnitude10.6

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