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Messier 81 |
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 | M81 is one of the easiest and most rewarding galaxies to observe for the amateur astronomer on the northern hemisphere, because with its total visual brightness of about 6.8 magnitudes it can be found with small instruments. The distance of M81 is probably close to 12.0 million light years. In a 8-inch scope, this is a bright spiral galaxy. At low powers, it fits into the same field as M 82. The spiral arms cannot be detected, giving it the appearance of an elliptical galaxy. The core is stellar, with the brightness fairly rapidly diminishing toward the edges. It doesn't appear to be quite oval at 188x. |
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| You can find more information about this Messier object by visiting: SEDS - The Messier Catalog. |
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Bode's Nebula M81 NGC 3031 Other description: Spiral galaxy structure. Constellation: Ursa Major Dreyer description: Remarkable! Extremely bright, extremely large, extended 156°, gradually abruptly very much brighter middle bright nucleus; = M81. Magnitude: 6.9 RA: 09h 55m 57.4s Dec: +69°03'09" RA: 09h 55m 36.0s Dec: +69°04'00" (Epoch 2000) Azm: 342°18'09" Alt: +30°27'02" Always above horizon. Transit: 16:36 Size:20.0' x 9.0' |