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The Cigar Galaxy is an example of galactic mayhem! Its
ravaged, irregular appearance is probably the result of a
close encounter with another, neighboring galaxy some time
in the past, which disrupted the Cigar and caused a flurry
of new star formation. The Cigar, and its neighboring
tormentor, are 12 million light years away in the
constellation Ursa Major (the Big Bear—aka, the Big
Dipper). |
