Bode's Galaxy (M81)

Code: M81, NGC 3031
Type: Spiral galaxy
Constellation: Ursa Major
Distance from the Sun: 12 million ly

M81 is named after astronomer Johann Elert Bode, who discovered it in 1774—the same night as M82, its cosmic neighbor. Its well-defined arms and regular structure make it one of the most balanced examples of spiral galaxies in the northern sky.

Fun fact: M81 is so close and well-defined that astronomers use it to calibrate galactic distances. Its clarity makes it a model study for understanding the dynamics of spiral galaxies.