Messier 81 (also known as NGC 3031 or Bode's Galaxy) is a spiral galaxy about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major.
Messier 82 (also known as NGC 3034 or the Cigar Galaxy) is a starburst galaxy about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major.
Forming a striking pair in small telescopes with nearby M81, M82 is being physically affected by its bigger neighbor. Tidal forces caused by gravity have deformed this galaxy, a process that started about 100 million years ago. This interaction has caused star formation to increase 10 fold compared to "normal" galaxies. Ignoring any difference in their respective distances from us, the centers of M81 and M82 are about 130,000 light-years apart. The actual separation is 300 kly |
