Spiral galaxy · Ursa Major

M82 Cigar Galaxy

Also known as: NGC 3034

mag 8.411′ across

About

M82, the Cigar Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy of magnitude 8.4 in Ursa Major, about 11′ across.

M82 is in the constellation Ursa Major.
Best evenings: around early April it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 10° S.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesNot visible to the naked eye.
Binoculars (10×50)A misty oval with a brighter centre.
Telescope (6–8 inch)A bright core in a fainter halo. The spiral arms are hard to see without a camera, even from a dark site.

For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.

Designations	M82, NGC 3034, PGC 28655, UGC 5322
Type	Spiral galaxy (S?)
Magnitude	8.4The smaller the number, the brighter.
Apparent size	11′ × 5.1′position angle 66°; the full Moon is 31′ across
Surface brightness	22.2 mag/arcsec²Average over its disc, in the blue band: the lower the number, the easier it is to see.
Constellation	Ursa Major
Right ascension (J2000)	09h 55m 52.7s
Declination (J2000)	+69° 40′ 46″