| Description | Recorded February 9, 1781: "A nebula near the ear of the great Bear [Ursa Major].... This nebula is a little oval, the center clear, & one can see it well in an ordinary telescope of 3.5 feet [FL]. It was discovered by M. Bode at Berlin on December 31, 1774, & by M. Méchain, in the month August 1779." <--> One of the most spectacular galaxy targets in the northern hemisphere, visible most months due to its circumpolar location at Dec +69°. This is a favorite target that I've imaged many times, and often at EAA star parties: solo, in a duet with M82, a triplet adding NGC 3077, and intriguingly adding Coddington's Nebula, a dark, dwarf galaxy. The gallery features M81 solo, captured recently with my new 2600mc camera, and includes additional images of both the triplet and quartet. M81, by itself, is a beautiful, bright, spiral galaxy viewed 3/4. |
