You’ll find this deep-sky wonder in the northeastern sky after sunset.
The Bodez Galaxy, known by the names M81, NGC 3031 and many other names, is a showpiece spiral in the northern constellation Ursa Major the Great Bear. Credit: Johannes Schedler
In the northwestern section of Ursa Major the Great Bear lies the spectacular spiral galaxy M81 (NGC 3031). At magnitude 6.9, it is one of the brightest galaxies in the sky. You’ll find it 2° east-southeast of the 4.5 star 24 Ursae Majoris.
German astronomer and celestial cartographer Johann Elert Bode discovered this object and the nearby irregular galaxy M82 on December 31, 1774. French astronomer Pierre François André Méchain independently discovered both galaxies in August 1779 and reported them to Messier, who added them to his catalog. But because Bode was the first to observe it, astronomers informally named it after him.
With its relatively bright magnitude and size of 24′ by 13′, the Bodez Galaxy shines bright enough to be visible through binoculars, but the bigger the telescope you can use to see it, the better. Through an 8-inch scope, you’ll see a larger, brighter central area surrounding a much brighter core. Through the 11-inch instrument, you will discover how the spiral arms wrap tightly around the core. The easternmost arm appears brighter. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to spot dusty lanes or star-forming regions through any size amateur scope.
M81 is the brightest member of the M81 cluster, one of the closest galactic clusters to our own Local Group. The M81 cluster contains about a dozen galaxies and is located 12 million light years away. Other members of this group include the Cigar Galaxy (M82), NGC 2403, NGC 2366 and NGC 3077.
So, sometime in the next few months, pick a clear moonless night and point your telescope toward the Bodez Galaxy. You’ll be glad you did. May you be successful!
