Messier 81/82 (M 81/82) - Bode Galaxies

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.

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, 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.

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

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

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 81: messier.seds.org/m/m081.html
• Messier Catalogue - Messier 82: messier.seds.org/m/m082.html

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
• 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 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