Messier 81 (left) and Messier 82 (right) are a pair of spectacular galaxies in Ursa Major that are one of the most beautiful sights in the spring nighttime sky.

M81 is a grand design spiral galaxy that forms a physical pair with irregular starburst galaxy M82. They are located 12 million light-years away from Earth and are separated by 150,000 light-years in space which appears to be 1/2 of a degree from our vantage point.

Holmberg IX, a faint irregular dwarf satellite galaxy of M81 is also visible above it.

M81 and M82 are part of the M81 galaxy group. This galaxy group, consisting of M81, M82, NGC 3077 and NGC 2976, is the nearest galaxy group to our own local group of galaxies which contains the Milky Way. Both the M81 galaxy group and our local group are part of the Virgo Supercluster of galaxies.

M81 and M82 can easily be found by drawing a line from Phecda to Dubhe and extending it again the same distance (about 10 degrees - one fist's width at arm's length).

North is to the right in the above image.

M81 and M82 Catalogs: M81: NGC 3031 M82: NGC 3034 Common Names: M81: Bode's Galaxy M82: Cigar Galaxy Object Type: M81: SA(s)ab Galaxy M82: I0 edge-on Galaxy Magnitude: M81: 7.0v M82: 8.6v Size: M81: 24.9' x 11.5' M82: 11.2' x 4.3' Constellation: Ursa Major Image Field Centered At: RA: 09h 55m 43s Dec: +69° 19' 31" Individual galaxy coordinates can be found in the Master List.