Irregular galaxy M82 in Ursa Major

by: R.Gendler/BYU/Novapix
Reference: a-gax30-34014
Date: 2010-06-10

M82 is a prototypical irregular type galaxy located 12 million light years away in Ursa Major constellation. M82 is also the closest starburst galaxy to the Milky Way. As a starburst galaxy M82 shows a rate of star formation 10 times greater than our galaxy. Conditions for the starburst activity were believed triggered by a past close encounter with M81 between 300 and 600 million years ago.

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