Irregular galaxy
in Ursa Major. As galaxies go, Messier 82 is fairly
close to us, about 12 million light years away. Only a handful of galaxies are
closer. Sometimes called the Cigar Galaxy
because of shape, it is classified as an irregular galaxy because it has neither a spiral or an elliptical shape seen in most
galaxies. Even with a small
telescope, its elongated shape is readily visible. With telescopes of larger aperture, such
as my 18-inch Dobsonian, the irregularities in its
outline and some of its larger internal features can be seen. It is an interesting object to observe
carefully. With a low-power
eyepiece, it can be seen in the same field of view as the spiral galaxy Messier
81, making a striking pair.