M81 — Bode’s Galaxy
Grand-design spiral galaxy; pairs beautifully with starburst neighbor M82.
Capture details
- Date: 2025-11-03
- Integration: 1 × 30s (single sub test)
- Gear: Askar 80ED + 0.85× • Canon 550D (Hα)
- Location: near Goldach / CH
- Notes: Single sub, RA-only
Processing
Minimal stretch and noise control due to short integration.
What is M81 (Bode’s Galaxy)?
M81 is a beautiful grand-design spiral galaxy in Ursa Major, about 12 million light-years away. It forms a famous interacting pair with the starburst galaxy M82. Long integrations reveal delicate spiral arms and dust lanes.
- Type: Spiral galaxy
- Distance: ~12 million ly
- Why it’s popular: Classic target; pairs nicely with M82 in the same frame