Telescope:

 8" f5 Newtonian reflector

Camera:

  ST-8XME, self-guided, binned 1x1, temp -20c, camera control MaxIm DL 4.56

Image:

Red (Hoya 25A) filter, 140 minutes (14 x 10 subs), 01/1/2007

Processing:

CCDStack 1.1, Photoshop 7.0

Location

 Rolling Roof Observatory, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (+34d 13m 29s -118h 52m 20s)

Notes:

This images replaces a 120 minute red-filtered Track & Accumulate from 03/23/2006.

M 82 is located about 37 minutes North of M 81.

From the NGC / IC Project:

Contemporary Visual Observation(s) for NGC 3034

NGC 3034 = M82 = U05322 = MCG +12-10-011 = CGCG 333-008 = Arp 337 = PGC 28655
09 55 53.5 +69 40 54
V = 8.4;  Size 11.2x4.3;  SB = 12.5;  PA = 65d

17.5": very bright, large, edge-on 4:1 WSW-ENE, 10' x 2.5', large bright 
irregular core.  Very mottled with an unusually high surface brightness.  Unique 
appearance with several dark cuts oblique to the major axis including a 
prominent wedge or cut nearly through the center.  A mag 10 star is just south 
of the SW end 5.8' from the center

13": two obvious dark lanes.

8": bright, spindle, mottled.  A dark wedge cuts into the galaxy near the center 
from the south side.

- by Steve Gottlieb

NGC 3034 = M 82.  The position for this large, bright irregular galaxy depends
strongly on wavelength.  The brightest optical knot is not coincident with
the radio "nucleus" nor with the brightest infrared knot.  And there are 
several bright X-ray sources scattered throughout the galaxy.

All the positions I've listed, though, fall within the boundaries of the 
galaxy, and there is of course no identification problem (but note that this
is one of the few Messier objects which also received a number -- IV 79 -- in 
WH's catalogue). - Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.