Messier 81, also known as Bode’s Galaxy, is a grand design spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major, approximately 12 million light-years away from Earth. It is one of the brightest galaxies visible from our planet and a popular target for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers alike. With its well-defined spiral arms and bright central bulge, M81 offers a stunning view through telescopes and in long-exposure photographs. The galaxy is part of the M81 Group, which includes several other nearby galaxies, and provides valuable insights into galactic formation and evolution.
Names and Catalog numbers
- Bode’s Galaxy
- Messier 81 (M81)
- NGC 3031
- UGC 5318
- PGC 28630
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
Messier 81 is situated in the northern celestial hemisphere, approximately 10 degrees northwest of the star Dubhe in the Big Dipper’s bowl. It is part of the M81 Group, a collection of galaxies that includes its close neighbor M82 (the Cigar Galaxy) and several other smaller galaxies. This group is part of the larger Virgo Supercluster, a vast structure containing hundreds of galaxies, including our own Milky Way.
Nice to Know
- M81 contains an active galactic nucleus powered by a supermassive black hole approximately 70 million times the mass of our Sun.
- The galaxy is rich in hydrogen-alpha regions, indicating active star formation within its spiral arms.
- M81 and its neighbor M82 are often photographed together due to their proximity in the night sky, creating stunning astrophotography compositions.
- The galaxy hosts over 200 globular clusters, providing ample targets for detailed observation and imaging.
Brightness, distance and size
Messier 81 has an apparent visual magnitude of 6.94, making it one of the brightest galaxies visible from Earth. It is located approximately 12 million light-years away from our planet. The galaxy spans about 90,000 light-years in diameter, which is similar to the size of our Milky Way. In terms of apparent size in the night sky, M81 measures approximately 21 by 10 arcminutes, appearing about one-third the size of the full moon when viewed from Earth.
