Cigar Galaxy

For the rifle, see M82 (rifle)

The Cigar Galaxy (also known as Irregular Galaxy M82, Messier Object 82, Messier 82, M82, or NGC 3034) is a starburst galaxy in the Ursa Major constellation.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory detected fluctuating X-ray emissions from the sector, approximately 600 light-years away from the centre of the messier object — around 12 million light-years from Earth. Astronomers have postulated that M82 would contain the first known mid-mass black hole, of roughly 500 solar masses.

Many speculate that the Cigar galaxy, classified as Irr-II (Irregular galaxy type II - no organization whatsoever), is actually a barred spiral galaxy seen edge on, with gravitational distortions and massive dust lanes, presenting an irregular morphology to us.

Related topics

• New General Catalogue
• Wikipedia Project: Astronomical Objects

External links

• M82, SEDS Messier pages

See also: Cigar Galaxy, Barred spiral galaxy, Chandra X-ray Observatory, Earth, Irregular galaxy, Light-year, M82 (rifle), Messier object, New General Catalogue, Solar mass