Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA)
Société canadienne d'astronomie (CASCA)

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Ernie R. SEAQUIST
University of Toronto

The Galaxy M82 - a Rosetta Stone for the Starburst Phenomenon

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Starburst activity in galaxies is currently the focus of much attention,both in the local and early universe. One reason is that it now appears that such activity was the primary mode for star formation inthe first generations of galaxies, for example the ultra luminous infraredemitting galaxies detected at high redshift in sub-mm surveys. Though star formation is less common in the universe today, the local universe provides the best means to explore the starburst phenomenon at higher resolution andto understand the detailed processes responsible. The galaxy M82 was known as a nearby peculiar system long before the starburst phenomenon became a player on the cosmological stage. As more andmore data emerged to permit an understanding of this peculiar galaxy throughoutthe 1960's 70's and 80's, it became increasingly clear that the intenseactivity in this system seen in all wavebands reflect an anomalously high rate of star formation, possibly linked to galaxy interaction. My lecture will trace the milestones during this period, by which we came to understand M82's role as a "Rosetta Stone" of the starburst phenomenon, and how it continues today to set the pace for understanding the mechanisms whichpromote and inhibit explosive star formation.