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M81 (left) and M82 (right). M82 is one of two galaxies strongly influenced gravitationally by M81. The other, NGC 3077, is located off the top edge of this image. M81 with satellite galaxy Holmberg IX in the top center-right corner. Only one supernova has been detected in Messier 81. [18]
The M81 Group is a galaxy group in the constellations Ursa Major and Camelopardalis that includes the galaxies Messier 81 and Messier 82, as well as several other galaxies with high apparent brightnesses. [1] The approximate center of the group is located at a distance of 3.6 Mpc, making it one of the nearest groups to the Local Group. [1]
As one of the closest starburst galaxies to Earth, M82 is the prototypical example of this galaxy type. [ 7 ] [ a ] SN 2014J , a type Ia supernova , was discovered in the galaxy on 21 January 2014. [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] In 2014, in studying M82, scientists discovered the brightest pulsar yet known, designated M82 X-2 .
The pair of galaxies were found lensed by galaxy cluster CL1358+62 (z=0.33). This was the first time since 1964 that something other than a quasar held the record for being the most distant object in the universe.
This encompasses about 50 major Local Group galaxies, and some that are members of neighboring galaxy groups, the M81 Group and the Centaurus A/M83 Group, and some that are currently not in any defined galaxy group.
M81 is a nearly face-on spiral galaxy 11.8 million light-years from Earth. Like most spiral galaxies, it has a core made up of old stars, with arms filled with young stars and nebulae. Along with M82, it is a part of the galaxy cluster closest to the Local Group. M82 is a nearly edgewise galaxy that is interacting gravitationally with M81.
SN 2014J was a type-Ia supernova in Messier 82 (the 'Cigar Galaxy', M82) discovered in mid-January 2014. [3] It was the closest type-Ia supernova discovered for 42 years, and no subsequent supernova has been closer as of 2023. The supernova was discovered by chance during an undergraduate teaching session at the University of London Observatory.
While imaging M81 and M82 in December 2004, Steve Mandel spotted a large nebula complex around both of the galaxies, [5] after consulting with radio and optical astronomers Steve Mandel was able to confirm that he had come across a huge dust complex that wasn't very known.