M81 Bode’s Galaxy and M82 Cigar Galaxy Revisited https://photo.m-j-s.net/blog/2025/02/m81-bodes-galaxy-and-m82-cigar-galaxy-revisited/

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One of my absolute favourite deep sky objects: Messier 81 & 82

Messier 81 and 82 are a dynamic pair of galaxies in the constellation Ursa Major. Gravitationally bound to one another, they dance amidst gaseous filaments of neutral hydrogen stripped from each other from past close encounters.

Messier 81, also known as Bode’s Galaxy, is a bright spiral galaxy proudly twirling its arms around its pale amber nucleus. It’s the largest in its group.

Messier 82, the smaller of the pair, has absorbed so much interstellar gas that it’s led to a profusion of star-forming activity within its galactic nucleus. This activity has given rise to a strong galactic wind that spews knotty filaments of neutral hydrogen and nitrogen from its centre, partially obscuring the brilliance of its nucleus. Its distorted shape is a direct result of a close encounter with its partner Messier 81.

I would be remiss not to mention that there’s a third member of this galactic dance: the small elliptical galaxy NGC 3077. Nothing more than a faint smudge a bit above M81, NGC 3077 is just as connected by those fine gaseous filaments and the allure of each other’s gravity.

The Messier 81 group is among the brightest galactic groups in the night sky and are a favourite among amateur astronomers. If you’re ever in the northern hemisphere and have a friend with a good-sized telescope, peering through the eyepiece at this duo is a sight to behold. It’s a favourite of mine whenever I bring out my telescope on a dark winter night.

#astronomy #galaxies #deepskyobjects #Messier81 #Messier82 #NGC3077 #UrsaMajor