Tuesday, Jun 4, 2024

Messier 81 (also known as Bode’s Galaxy, M81 or NGC 3031) is a grand design spiral galaxy located at an approximate distance of 11,8 million light years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 6,94. With prominent, clearly defined spiral arms, Bode’s Galaxy is an excellent example of a grand design spiral. Bode’s Galaxy was named after Johann Elert Bode, the German astronomer who discovered it on December 31, 1774, along with the nearby M82. He described the pair as “two small nebulae 3/4 degrees separated.” Messier 82 (also known as the Cigar Galaxy, M82 or NGC 3034) is an edge-on starburst galaxy located at a distance of 11,4 to 12,4 million light years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 8,41. It is the closest starburst galaxy to Earth and serves as a prototype for this type of galaxy. M82 is one of the smallest galaxies listed in the Messier catalogue and inclined about 80 degrees to our view. The galaxy’s edge-on appearance has earned it the name Cigar. The star forming activity in M82 is caused by the galaxy’s interaction with its large neighbour M81 that with tidal forces deforming the galaxy in a process that started some 100 million years ago. Pierre Méchain independently found M81 and M82 in August 1779 and reported the discovery to Charles Messier. Messier determined the positions of both objects and added them to his catalogue on February 9, 1781.