Messier 81/82 (M 81/82) - Bode Galaxies, NGC 3077

Introduction | Map | Sketch | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the Bode galaxies M 81/82 in the constellation Ursa Major and of the galaxy NGC 3077, which is a member of the M 81 group.

Introduction

M 81 (Bode Galaxy) is the main galaxy of a galaxy group in Ursa Major / Great Bear, which also includes the M 82 galaxy (Cigar Galaxy) (sometimes both galaxies are called together Bode Galaxies; the were both discovered by Elert Bode). Only in a small telescope, the two can be observed together, because the viewing angle should, according to Stoyan, be at least 1.5° (I was able to observe both at once in 2019 and in 2022, see below). M 81 is a spiral galaxy, which is seen from above, whereas M 82 is an irregular galaxy, which is seen in edge position.

NGC 3077 is a small disrupted elliptical galaxy and a member of the M 81 Group.

M 81		M 82		NGC 3077
Size: 12' x 5' / 6' x 2' (Stoyan) Distance: 11 million light years (Stoyan) Rating: **** (Stoyan)		Size: 12' x 5' / 6' x 2' (Stoyan) Distance: 11 million light years (Stoyan) Rating: **** (Stoyan)		Size: 2' (Stoyan) Distance: 12 million light years (Stoyan) Rating: * (Stoyan)

Map

M 81 (Bode Galaxy) and M 82 (Cigar Galaxy) in Ursa Major (top left) (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

M 81 (Bode Galaxy) and M 82 (Cigar Galaxy) in Ursa Major (more on the left side...) (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides a rough impression of what I observed (my impression was much fainter than the sketch): Sketch of the Bode galaxies by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016)

Note: I only have the author's permission to link to the sketch.

My Best Own Photos

eVscope

M 81 (Bode Galaxy; Ursa Major)


M 81 - May 5, 2020	M 81 - Jun 12, 2020	M 81 - Jun 12, 2020

M 81 - May 5, 2020, photo on top processed	M 81 - Jun 12, 2020, photo on top processed	M 81 - Jun 12, 2020, photo on top processed

M 81 - Mar 7, 2021	M 81 - Mar 8, 2021	M 81 - Mar 8, 2021

M 81 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed	M 81 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed	M 81 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed

M 82 (Cigar Galaxy; Ursa Major)


M 82 - May 5, 2020	M 82 - Jun 12, 2020	M 82 - Jun 12, 2020

M 82 - May 5, 2020, photo on top processed	M 82 - Jun 12, 2020, photo on top processed	M 82 - Jun 12, 2020, photo on top processed

M 82 - Mar 8, 2021	M 82 - Mar 8, 2021	M 82 - Mar 8, 2021

M 82 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed	M 82 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed	M 82 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed

ASI294

M 81, M 82, NGC 3077


M 81/82 - Apr 18, 2022, processed		M 81/82 - Apr 18, 2022, processed, evaluation with nova.astrometry.net

The Bode Galaxies M 81 (Bode Galaxy; at the center) and M 82 (Cigar Galaxy; top right) are accompanied by the galaxy NGC 3077 (top left)
Larger galaxies: M 81, M 82, NGC 3077

Vespera


M 81, Jul 31, 2022 - original (16 frames = 160 seconds)		M 82, Aug 12, 2022 - original (5 frames = 50 seconds)

M 81/82, Jul 31, 2022 - original (59 frames = 590 seconds)		M 81/82, Aug 12, 2022 - original (60 frames = 600 seconds)

M 81 & NGC 3077, Aug 28, 2022 - original (90 frames = 900 seconds)

My Own Observations

Observations February/March 2017

March 2, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Heritage P130 on GoTo mount): Looked out for the Bode galaxies M 81 and M 82 with the GoTo mount. This way, I was fairly confident that I would have them in my view. Whether I would be able to see them was, of course, an open question... Actually, I was able to see both of them very faintly. M 81, that is, the galaxy at which one looks from above, was a little bit easier to recognize. Without the GoTo mount, I probably would never have found the galaxies... Without the GoTo mount, I probably would never have found the galaxies...

Observations May 2017

May 5, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount): M 81 observed, faint (moonlight was disturbing)
May 14, 2017 (ditto): M 81 quite well to see
May 15, 16, 2017 (ditto): M 81/82 quite well to see, this time even both galaxies (left: flat, right oblique)

Observations September 2017

Sep 21, 2017 (Sumène, Haute Loire, France: Heritage 100P): M 81/82 (Bode Galaxies) observed at various magnifications (eyepieces: 24 mm, 16 mm, 7 mm, 4 mm); both(!) galaxies seen well, even the one that is looked at from the side. This time, I found the galaxies without a GoTo mount!

Observations September 2019

Sep 18, 2019 (Sumène, Haute Loire, Frankreich: StarTravel 120 on AZ Pronto mount): M 81/82 seen well (eyepieces: 24, 10 mm), probably never before that well, but still faint.
Sep 19, 2019 (Sumène, Haute Loire, Frankreich: PS 72/432 on AZ Pronto mount): M 81/82 seen well (eyepieces: 24, 7, 4 mm); with 4 mm both galaxies were located at opposing edges of the field of view; I therefore observed them alone; I was able to see both in the field of view with the other eyepieces.

Observations February to July 2020

February 19, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 81 and M 82 photographed; M 81 was a nice galaxy, particulary after post-processing, M 82 was good to see as a "cigar".
March 14, 17, and 25, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 81 and M 82 photographed
April 8, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 81 and M 82 photographed at full moon
April 21, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 81 and M 82 photographed
May 5, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 81 and M 82 photographed at nearly full moon in the new rectangular format without overlay
June 12, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 81 and M 82 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
July 3, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 81 and M 82 photographed (n.o., r.f.), sky too bright

Observations March 2021

March 7, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 81 and M 82 photographed (n.o., r.f.), eVscope defocused, photos discarded
March 8, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 81 and M 82 photographed (n.o., r.f.), exposed manually

Observations July 2021

July 29, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 81 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing, poor collimation, not very good...

Observations April 2022

April 10, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 81 and M 82 photographed (app version 1.5)
April 18, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS 72/432, ASI294): M 81 and M 82 photographed (app version 1.5)
April 28, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS 72/432, ASI294): M 81 and M 82 photographed (app version 1.5)

Observations July/August 2022

July 29, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 82 photographed
July 30, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 81 photographed
July 31, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 81 and M 81/82 photographed
August 12, 2022 (Erkerode: Vespera) M 82 and M 81/82 photographed
August 28, 2022 (Sumène/France: Vespera) M 82 and NGC 3077 photographed (M 82 missed...)

References

Messier Catalogue - Messier 81: messier.seds.org/m/m081.html
Messier Catalogue - Messier 82: messier.seds.org/m/m082.html
NGC 3077: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_3077

On this Site

Appendix: My Own Photos