Messier 82

Bode’s Galaxy – Messier 81

messier 81,m81,grand design spiral galaxy

Bode’s Galaxy, also known as Messier 81 (M81), is a grand design spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. M81 is one of the brightest galaxies seen from Earth. It has a near-perfect spiral shape, with prominent, well-defined spiral arms winding from the central region outwards. The galaxy is located approximately 11.8 million light years … [Read more…]

Supernova SN 2014J

supernova 2014,supernova 2014j,nearest supernova

The supernova SN 2014J is a Type Ia supernova first detected in January 2014 in the Cigar Galaxy (Messier 82), in Ursa Major. SN 2014J is the nearest Type Ia supernova event observed in the last 42 years. It reached peak magnitude of 10.5 and was bright enough to be seen by amateur astronomers.

Cigar Galaxy – Messier 82

messier 82,m82

The Cigar Galaxy, also known as Messier 82 (M82), is a famous nearby starburst galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. M82 appears edge-on when seen from Earth. It has five times the luminosity of the Milky Way and lies at an approximate distance of 11.5 million light years. The galaxy’s designation in the New … [Read more…]

Highlights of the April Sky

Here are some of the highlights of the night sky in April: 9 PM western sky – Jupiter hanging over the western horizon 9 PM eastern sky – Mars hanging over the eastern horizon, up throughout the night 11 PM southeastern sky – Saturn rising after sunset 11 PM eastern sky – on April 16, … [Read more…]

Big Dipper

big dipper,big dipper stars,big dipper facts

The Big Dipper is one of the most easily recognizable asterisms in the night sky, found in the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear. The Big Dipper is well-known in many cultures and goes by many names, among them the Plough, the Great Wagon, Saptarishi, and the Saucepan. The asterism is particularly prominent in the … [Read more…]