images

The irregular galaxy M82 in Ursa Major

by

E.Mouquet/Novapix

Reference

a-gax30-34004

Date

2007-01-17

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.