Bode’s Galaxy (Messier 81 or M81) is a stunning spiral galaxy located about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. It features a bright central bulge filled with older yellowish stars and well-defined spiral arms rich in gas, dust, and regions of active star formation. Roughly 90,000 light-years in diameter, M81 is slightly smaller than the Milky Way and is part of the M81 Group, a cluster of galaxies that also includes the nearby starburst galaxy Messier 82 (M82). Gravitational interactions between M81 and its neighbors have likely triggered bursts of star formation and helped shape their structures over cosmic time.

Body: Bode’s Galaxy (M81)
Original Resolution: 3204×1524
DPI: 96
Bit Depth: 24
Exposure Time: 1hr 10min