Deep sky · Galaxy in Ursa Major · M 81 · NGC 3031
M 81
Bode's Galaxy
Bode’s Galaxy: one of the brightest galaxies in the sky, a grand spiral with its disturbed companion M 82 beside it.
- Type
- Galaxy
- Designations
- M 81 · NGC 3031
- Constellation
- Ursa Major
- Apparent magnitude
- 6.9
- Apparent size
- 27′ × 14′
- Position (J2000)
- RA 9h 56m · Dec +69° 04′
History
Johann Bode found both on New Year’s Eve 1774.
Look for
A small telescope shows both galaxies in the same field — the oval of M 81 and the thin streak of M 82.