Combined in a distinct duo with the curved shaped M81, the Cigar Galaxy is the pride of galaxies to many observers of the northern hemisphere. The existence of this starburst galaxy is physically influenced by its large neighbor. Affected by huge gravity forces for 100 million years, M82 pictures a deformed shape by star clusters that makes it distinct from other galaxies in space.

In the last 200 million years the tidal encounters with M81 produced massive starbursts followed by immense amounts of gas funneled into the galaxy's core. This galactic events as seen through Hubble Space Telescope inspired the astronomers to nickname this galaxy the Cigar Galaxy.

Hubble Space Telescope revealed 197 young massive star clusters in the starburst core. The starburst core is a very energetic and high-density environment. Throughout the galaxy's center, young stars are being born 10 times faster than they are inside our entire Milky Way.

The Milky Way galaxy could fit in the 130.000 light years space gap between M81 and M82 galaxies cores. This area is abundant with star clusters and is in a phase of violent stellar activity, the unique bipolar outflow being fueled by supernova energy injections every 10 years or so.

The center of the Cigar Galaxy galaxy hosts a supermassive black hole with the mass of 30 million suns.

Facts and Stats:

• Alternative names: Messier 82, M82, NGC 3034
• Constellation: Ursa Major
• Distance from Earth to Cigar Galaxy: ~ 12 million light years