- For the rifle, see M82 (rifle)
Messier object 82, the Cigar Galaxy.
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, appoximately 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.
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