Chandra High-Resolution Camera observations of the luminous X-ray source in the starburst galaxy M82

We analyse Chandra High Resolution Camera observations of the starburst galaxy M82, concentrating on the most luminous X-ray source. We find a position for the source of RA = O9(h)55(m)50.(s)2, Dec. = +69 degrees 40'46."7 (J2000) with a 1 sigma radial error of 0.7 arcsec. The accurate X-ray position shows that the luminous source is neither at the dynamical centre of M82 nor coincident with any suggested radio AGN candidate. The source is highly variable between observations, which suggests that it is a compact object and not a supernova or remnant. There is no significant short-term variability within the observations. Dynamical friction and the off-centre position place an upper bound of 10(5)-10(6) M-. on the mass of the object, depending on its age. The X-ray luminosity suggests a compact object mass of at least 500 M-.. Thus the luminous source in M82 may represent a new class of compact object with a mass intermediate between those of stellar-mass black hole candidates and supermassive black holes.