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M81 Bode's Galaxy
Magnitude: 6.94
Distance: Aprox: 11.8 million light-years
Constellation: Ursa Major
Diameter: 90,000 light-years
Due to its proximity to Earth, large size, and active galactic nucleus (which harbors a 70 million solar mass supermassive black hole), Messier 81 has been studied extensively by professional astronomers. The galaxy's large size and relatively high brightness also make it a popular target for amateur astronomers.The best time of year to observe M81 is during the spring.
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M82 Cigar Galaxy
Magnitude: 8.41
Distance: Aprox: 12 million light-years
Constellation: Ursa Major
Diameter: 37,000 light-years
M82 is a starburst galaxy. It is about five times more luminous than the whole Milky Way and has a center one hundred times more luminous than our galaxy's center. The starburst activity is thought to have been triggered by interaction with neighboring galaxy M81. As the closest starburst galaxy to Earth, M82 is the prototypical example of this galaxy type.
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NGC 3077
Magnitude: 10.6
Distance: Aprox: 12.8 million light-years
Constellation: Ursa Major
Despite looking much like an elliptical galaxy, it is peculiar for two reasons. First, it shows wispy edges and scattered dust clouds that are probably a result of gravitational interaction with its larger neighbors, similar to the galaxy M82. Second, this galaxy has an active nucleus. This caused Carl Seyfert in 1943 to include it in his list of galaxies, which are now called Seyfert Galaxies. However, NGC 3077, though an emission line galaxy, is today no longer classified as a Seyfert galaxy.
NGC 3077 was discovered by William Herschel on November 8, 1801. He remarked that "On the nF (NE) side, there is a faint ray interrupting the roundness." Admiral Smyth described it as "A bright-class round nebula; it is a lucid white, and lights up in the centre ... between these [stars,] the sky is intensely black, and shows the nebula as if floating in awful and illimitable space, at an inconceivable distance."
Taken 1/25/18 in Toledo Ohio by Russell Kille on a CPC 1100 with Hyperstar @ F2 and ZWO ASI294MC Pro camera
Taken 2/18/18 in Chiefland Florida by Russell Kille on a CPC 1100 with Hyperstar @ F2 and ZWO ASI294MC Pro camera
Taken 6/8/19 at Lake Hudson Recreation Area in Clayton, MI by Russell Kille on a Celestron 14" EdgeHD @ f/11 and ZWO ASI294MC Pro camera
