deep-sky
galaxy (spiral)
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Messier 81 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major.
Discovered in 1774 by Johan Elert Bode, the galaxy is also known as “Bode’s Galaxy” or NGC3031.
It lies at a distance of approximately 12 million light years.
M81 is the largest galaxy in the so called M81 Group, containing 34 galaxies, all in the constellation Ursa Major.
The small and faint patch to the north of the galaxy is called Homlberg IX. This is a dwarf irregular galaxy and a satellite galaxy of M81.
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Image information:
Object info
Name: M81 – Bode’s Galaxy
Type: Galaxy (spiral)
Constellation: Ursa Major
Distance: 12 Mly
Date & location
Date: March 19, 2012
Location: Landgraaf, The Netherlands
Equipment & optics
Total integration: 2h40m
Camera: SBIG ST-8300M
Optics: Orion Optics SPX 10″ Newton
Mount: Losmandy G-11 Gemini
Image comments
Distance from Paracorr to CCD is not correct.