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 (NGC 3031/3034) in the constellation Ursa Major and of the nearby galaxy NGC 3077.

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 telescope with a short focal length, 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 nearby, a small disrupted elliptical galaxy, and a member of the M 81 Group. A little further away is the spiral galaxy IC 2574 (Coddington's Nebula; Ursa Major).

M 81 Group

The M 81 Group is a galaxy group in the constellations Ursa Major and Camelopardalis that includes the galaxies Messier 81 and Messier 82, as well as several other galaxies with high apparent brightnesses (the group contains about 60 galaxies).

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)		Size comparison with Vespera Pro: M 81/82 (section), May 10, 2024 - 2000p (360 frames = 3600s)

Vespera Pro

M 81/82 & NGC 3077, May 10, 2024 - 2000p (360 frames = 3600s), mosaic		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net (includes NGC 2959, 2961, and 2976)
M 81/82 & NGC 3077, May 10, 2024 - 2000p (360 frames = 3600s), mosaic, section, processed and denoised (PSE, DN)		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net
M 81/82 & NGC 3077, Mar 19, 2025 - 2000p, 40 min, section		M 81/82 & NGC 3077, Mar 19, 2025 - 2000p, 40 min, section, processed
M 81/82 & NGC 3077, Mar 19, 2025 - 2000p, 40 min, section, further processed (AP)		M 81/82 & NGC 3077, Mar 19, 2025 - 2000p, 40 min, section, further processed (AP) and denoised (PAI)
M 81/82 & NGC 3077, Mar 19, 2025 - 2000p, 40 min, section, processed		M 81/82 & NGC 3077, Mar 19, 2025 - 2000p, 40 min, section, processed (see photo left) and denoised (PAI), further processed

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: eVscope2): 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 together with NGC 3077
• April 28, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS 72/432, ASI294): M 81 and M 82 photographed together with NGC 3077

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...)

Observations May 2024

• May 10, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 81/82, NGC 3077 (and more) photographed as a mosaic (grid pattern in the background after longer exposure)

Observations March 2025

• March 19, 2025 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 81/82, NGC 3077 photographed (40 min)

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 81: messier.seds.org/m/m081.html
• Messier Catalogue - Messier 82: messier.seds.org/m/m082.html
• Messier 81 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_81
• Messier 82 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_82
• NGC 3077: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_3077
• M81 Group (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M81_Group

On this Site

• Sky-Watcher Heritage P130 Information (5" Dobson)
• Sky-Watcher Heritage 100P Information (4" Dobson)
• Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS Information (6" Newton)
• Omegon Photography Scope 72/432 ED OTA Information (2.8" Refractor)
• Sky-Watcher StarTravel 120/600 OTA Information (4.7" Refractor, Borrowed)
• Unistellar eVscope Information
• Unistellar eVscope 2 Information
• Vaonis Vespera - Information
• Vaonis Vespera Pro - Information
• Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ Pronto Mount Information

Appendix: My Own Photos

eVscope

M 81 (Bode Galaxy; Ursa Major)

M 81 - Feb 19, 2020		M 81 - Feb 19, 2020		M 81 - Feb 19, 2020
M 81 - Feb 19, 2020, processed		M 81 - Feb 19, 2020, processed		M 81 - Feb 19, 2020, processed
M 81 - Mar 14, 2020		M 81 - Mar 14, 2020, processed		M 81 - Mar 14, 2020, processed alternatively
M 81 - Mar 17, 2020		M 81 - Mar 17, 2020		M 81 - Mar 25, 2020
M 81 - Mar 17, 2020, photo above processed		M 81 - Mar 17, 2020, photo above processed		M 81 - Mar 25, 2020, photo above processed
M 81 - Apr 8, 2020, full moon		M 81 - Apr 21, 2020		M 81 - Apr 21, 2020
M 81 - Apr 8, 2020, photo on top processed		M 81 - Apr 21, 2020, photo on top processed		M 81 - Apr 21, 2020, photo on top processed
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 81 - Jul 29, 2021		M 81 - Jul 29, 2021, photo left processed

M 82 (Cigar Galaxy; Ursa Major)

M 82 - Feb 19, 2020		M 82 - Feb 19, 2020		M 82 - Feb 19, 2020
M 82 - Feb 19, 2020, processed		M 82 - Feb 19, 2020, processed		M 82 - Feb 19, 2020, processed
M 82 - Mar 14, 2020		M 82 - Mar 17, 2020		M 82 - Mar 25, 2020
M 82 - Mar 14, 2020, photo on top processed		M 82 - Mar 17, 2020, photo on top processed		M 82 - Mar 25, 2020, photo on top processed
M 82 - Apr 8, 2020, full moon		M 82 - Apr 21, 2020
M 82 - Apr 8, 2020, photo left processed		M 82 - Apr 21, 2020, photo left processed
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

eVscope 2

M 81

M 81 - Apr 10, 2022		M 81 - Apr 10, 2022, photo left processed

M 82

M 82 - Apr 10, 2022		M 82 - Apr 10, 2022, photo left 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
M 81/M 82 - Apr 28, 2022, processed		M 81/82 - Apr 28, 2022, processed, section

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 - original (12 frames = 120 seconds; obstacles)
M 82, Aug 12, 2022 - original (3 frames = 30s)		M 82, Aug 12, 2022 - original (5 frames = 50s)
M 81/82, Jul 31, 2022 - original (59 frames = 590s)		M 81/82, Aug 12, 2022 - original (60 frames = 600s)
M 81 & NGC 3077, Aug 28, 2022 - original (90 frames = 900s)		Size comparison with Vespera Pro: M 81/82 (section), May 10, 2024 - 2000p (360 frames = 3600s)

Vespera Pro

M 81/82 & NGC 3077, May 10, 2024 - 2000p (360 frames = 3600s), mosaic		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net (includes NGC 2959, 2961, and 2976)
M 81/82 & NGC 3077, May 10, 2024 - 2000p (360 frames = 3600s), mosaic, section, processed and denoised (PSE, DN)		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net
M 81/82 & NGC 3077, Mar 19, 2025 - 2000p, 40 min, section		M 81/82 & NGC 3077, Mar 19, 2025 - 2000p, 40 min, section, processed
M 81/82 & NGC 3077, Mar 19, 2025 - 2000p, 40 min, section, further processed (AP)		M 81/82 & NGC 3077, Mar 19, 2025 - 2000p, 40 min, section, further processed (AP) and denoised (PAI)
M 81/82 & NGC 3077, Mar 19, 2025 - 2000p, 40 min, section, processed		M 81/82 & NGC 3077, Mar 19, 2025 - 2000p, 40 min, section, processed (see photo left) and denoised (PAI), further processed