M81, Bode's Galaxy, and M82, the Cigar galaxy in Ursa Major
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These two interacting galaxies lie in the constellation Ursa Major and are about 12 million light years distant. M81 on the left is working
hard to tear M82 apart. One result is that M82 is goiing through a massive star producing stage and is referred to as a starburst galaxy. The
interaction has been going on for some 2-4 million years. NGC 3077 is a third galaxy also interacting with this pair but is just outside this image on the
upper left. Holmborg IX is another irregular galaxy slightly above M81 and PGC28731 is the smudge to the left. North is to the right in this image.