Observation by Graham Roberts: M81 & M82

Uploaded by

Graham Roberts

Observer

Graham Roberts

Observed

2026 Feb 24 - 18:30

Uploaded

2026 Mar 21 - 17:08

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Constellation

Ursa Major

Field centre

RA: 09^h55^m
Dec: +69°20'
Position angle: -118°32'

Field size

1°41' × 1°30'

Location

Wells, Somerset

Target name

M81 & M82

Title

M81 & M82

About this image

M81 and M82 are two well-known galaxies in the northern sky, which being just 20^o from Polaris are also circumpolar. Located in the constellation Ursa Major, they appear near each other in the sky and interact gravitationally. Both galaxies were discovered in 1774 by the German astronomer Johann Elert Bode and later included in the Messier Catalogue. Together, M81 and M82 form the central members of the M81 Group, a small cluster of galaxies located not far from our own Local Group.

For more details and imagig inforamtion please refer to my website here: https://watchthisspaceman.com/2026/03/21/messier-magnificence-m81-m82/

Files associated with this observation

M81_M82.png (6.2 MB)

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Callum Wingrove

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