M81

Bode's Galaxy is a grand spiral galaxy located about 11.8 million light-years away in Ursa Major. It is one of the brightest galaxies in the northern sky and forms a famous visual pair with the nearby starburst galaxy M82 (the Cigar Galaxy). The two galaxies are gravitationally interacting — a close encounter about 300 million years ago left tidal arms and triggered the intense starburst activity in M82. M81 hosts a supermassive black hole of about 70 million solar masses at its center.

Located about 10 degrees northwest of Dubhe (Alpha Ursae Majoris). M81 and M82 fit together in a low-power telescope field, making a spectacular pair. M81 appears as a bright, elongated oval glow with a brilliant core in a 4-inch telescope. Larger apertures (8 inches+) begin to reveal hints of spiral arm structure under dark skies. The contrast between M81's smooth elegance and M82's chaotic streak makes the pair endlessly fascinating. Best observed from January through June when Ursa Major is high.

Discovered by Johann Elert Bode on December 31, 1774, hence the name 'Bode's Galaxy.' Independently found by Pierre Mechain in 1779 and added to Messier's catalog. In 1993, supernova SN 1993J was observed in M81 — one of the brightest supernovae of the 20th century, which helped refine the cosmic distance scale.