Discovered by the German astronomer Johann Elert Bode in 1774, M81 is one of the brightest galaxies in the night sky. It is located 11.6 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major and has an apparent magnitude of 6.9. M81 is one of the brightest galaxies in our night sky, as seen here on Earth.

Understanding the Context

Its size and well-defined spiral arms make it an enjoyable sight through almost any telescope or even a pair of binoculars. A telescope with an aperture of 8″ or more will show more detail under dark skies. Bode's Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy are M81 and M82, respectively, in the Messier Catalogue. They are a pair of galaxies that can be found in the constellation of Ursa Major, and are some of the most famous galaxies located in that constellation.

Key Insights

Bode's Galaxy by Bill McSorley, Leeds, UK. Messier 81 (M81), also known as Bode’s Galaxy, is a grand design spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. The galaxy lies at an approximate distance of 11.8 million light years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 6.94. One such captivating celestial structure is Messier 81 (M81) —popularly known as Bode’s Galaxy. It is one of the most magnificent spiral galaxies near the Milky Way, renowned for its elegant arms, active nucleus, and influential gravitational relationships with neighboring galaxies.

Final Thoughts

M81 - The Bode's Galaxy: Type, Age, Size, Diameter, Mass, Location ... The sharpest image ever taken of the large "grand design" spiral galaxy M81 is being released today at the American Astronomical Society Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. A spiral-shaped system of stars, dust, and gas clouds, the galaxy's arms wind all the way down into the nucleus. Bode’s Galaxy, also known as Messier 81 (M81), is a grand design spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. M81 is one of the brightest galaxies seen from Earth. It has a near-perfect spiral shape, with prominent, well-defined spiral arms winding from the central region outwards.