M82 (Cigar Galaxy) Complete Guide — Irregular Galaxy in Ursa Major

Overview

Cigar Galaxy (M82) is a Irregular Galaxy located in Ursa Major, cataloged as NGC 3034. With an apparent magnitude of 8.4, it lies About 12 million light-years from Earth. This Intermediate-level object is best observed in the Spring sky.

Irregular galaxies lack the organized shape of spiral or elliptical galaxies. They often have active star formation and distinctive, asymmetric shapes.

Basic Data

Item	Data
Messier Number	M82
Catalog Number	NGC 3034
Object Type	Irregular Galaxy
Constellation	Ursa Major
Apparent Magnitude	8.4
Distance	About 12 million light-years
Best Season	Spring
Difficulty	Intermediate
Required Equipment	Small telescope

Physical Characteristics

This galaxy is located About 12 million light-years from Earth with an apparent magnitude of 8.4.

While there are estimated to be hundreds of billions of galaxies in the universe, those in the Messier catalog are relatively bright and representative objects observable with amateur telescopes.

Observation Guide

How to Find

Cigar Galaxy (M82) is located in the Ursa Major region. It transits around 20:00–22:00 during Spring, making it well-positioned for observation. use the main stars of Ursa Major as guide stars and confirm the exact position with a star chart or app.

Observation Tips

Galaxy observation benefits from dark skies and large-aperture telescopes. Use low magnification for a wide field of view, and allow your eyes to fully dark-adapt before observing.

Recommended Equipment

We recommend observing from dark skies with a telescope of 80mm aperture or more.

Astrophotography Tips

Cigar Galaxy (M82) is a popular target for astrophotography. Tracking with an equatorial mount is essential. Long exposures (30 seconds to several minutes) at high ISO reveal details invisible to the naked eye. Stacking multiple images reduces noise and produces beautiful, detailed results.

Summary

M82 is a Irregular Galaxy observable in Ursa Major, rated Intermediate level. Enjoyable with a small telescope, it is one of the most popular Messier objects for observation. Try observing it in the Spring night sky!