M82 (NGC 3034) UMa galaxy
Difficulty level 2

Date of observation: 1997/11/.02 02:40
Observing site: Kuju
Transparency/seeing/sky darkness: 4/3/4
Instruments: 32cm Dobsonian with TPL10.5 at150x
Width of field: 0.3�‹
This is a bright and large galaxy and paired with M81. With neighboring small galaxies it forms a cluster of galaxies close to us.
Careful observation shows three separate regions. The southwestern and central regions are bright, while the northeastern region is faint and diffuse. The southwestern region is evenly bright with a pointed end. A dark lane seems to run diagonally between the southwestern region and central region. The central region is fan-shaped, open to the southeast. A faint dark lane is detected between the northeastern region and the central region. In spite of its brightness, it is unusual this galaxy has no strong central brightening.