Exploring Messier 82: The Cigar Galaxy Messier 82, also known as the Cigar Galaxy, captivates astronomers with its irregular shape and intense star formation. Situated 12 million light-years away in Ursa Major, it's influenced by gravitational interactions with Messier 81. This interaction triggers prolific star birth, forming its vibrant central "starburst nucleus." Modern observations, including those from the Hubble Space Telescope, unveil intricate details of its turbulent environment, enriching our understanding of galactic evolution. A Galactical Profile Messier 82 was first discovered by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1774. However, it wasn't until 1779 that the galaxy was cataloged by Charles Messier, a French astronomer famous for his compilation of astronomical objects known as the Messier Catalogue. Messier 82 earned its place as the 82nd entry in this esteemed list. What makes Messier 82 particularly fascinating is its unusual shape and...
“The universe is not only stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can't imagine”