M82, Palomar
M82 is an irregular galaxy in the constellation of Ursa Major. At a distance of 12 million light years, M82 is the nearest example of a class of galaxies known as "starbursts" because of they form stars at a higher rate than normal galaxies like our own Milky Way. Because of its shape when viewed through a small telescope it is also known as the Cigar galaxy.

The image on the left shows M82 as seen by the 48-inch telescope optical telescope located on Mount Palomar, California.