Holmberg IX is a
dwarf irregular galaxy and a
satellite galaxy
A satellite galaxy is a smaller companion galaxy that travels on bound orbits within the gravitational potential of a more massive and luminous host galaxy (also known as the primary galaxy). Satellite galaxies and their constituents are bound ...
of
M81, located in the constellation of
Ursa Major
Ursa Major (; also known as the Great Bear) is a constellation in the northern sky, whose associated mythology likely dates back into prehistory. Its Latin name means "greater (or larger) bear," referring to and contrasting it with nearby Ursa ...
. The galaxy is
named after
Erik Holmberg who first described it. Based on the observed age distribution of stars it contains it is thought to have formed within the last 200
Myr making it the youngest nearby
galaxy.
It is also home to one of two
yellow supergiant
A yellow supergiant (YSG) is a star, generally of spectral type F or G, having a supergiant luminosity class (e.g. Ia or Ib). They are stars that have evolved away from the main sequence, expanding and becoming more luminous.
Yellow supergiants ...
eclipsing binary
A binary star is a system of two stars that are gravitationally bound to and in orbit around each other. Binary stars in the night sky that are seen as a single object to the naked eye are often resolved using a telescope as separate stars, in w ...
systems.
References
Further reading
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External links
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M81's satellite galaxy Holmberg IXGALEX Completes Four Star-Studded Years in SpaceDwarf Galaxy Holmberg IX*
{{Sky, 09, 57, 32.1, +, 69, 02, 46, 12000000
Interacting galaxies
Dwarf irregular galaxies
05336
28757
28757
Ursa Major (constellation)
M81 Group