M81 is a bright spiral galaxy in Ursa Major that is considered one of the showpiece galaxies of the northern sky. Easily visible as a nebulus patch in a 6 x 30 finder, M81 is a fine sight in a large telescope, with hints of spiral structure visible in a 14" telescope. In an 8" telescope it appears as a large elliptical patch of light with a bright centre.

M81 is one of the nearer galaxies, being about 7,000,000 lightyears away. It is the most distant object wisible to the naked eye in the northern sky, having been observed on several occassions by experienced observers under very dark skies.

Visible in the same low-power field is the bright, irregular galaxy M82. This galaxy appears as a long cigar-shaped object with a higher surface brightness than M81, making it an easier object in the telescope if the skies are not very dark. To the left (east) of M81 is the 10th magnitude galaxy, NGC 3077.

40 minutes exposure, Kodak Elite 200 film.
5" f/5 refractor at prime focus.

A 180 second exposure and a 120 second exposure combined. Modified Canon Digital Rebel DSLR camera.
5" f/5 refractor at prime focus.

Combination of 5, 180 second images. Modified Canon Digital Rebel DSLR camera.
5" f/5 refractor at prime focus.

Combination of 13, 30 second images. Modified Canon Digital Rebel DSLR camera.
10" f/6.3 schmidt-cassegrain at prime focus.

Combination of 20, 3 minute images each through red, green, and blue filters.
SBIG ST-8E CCD. 5" f/5 refractor at prime focus.

This image is a combination of 6, 1 minute exposures, SBIG ST-8E CCD.
8" f/6.3 schmidt-cassegrain telescope at prime focus.

Combination of 3, 3 minute images unfiltered,
3, 3 minute images with red, and green filters and 4, 3 minute images with a blue filter.
SBIG ST-9XE CCD. 10" f/6.3 schmidt-cassegrain telescope at prime focus.

Combination of 20, 3 minute images unfiltered,
and 15, 3 minute images each through red, green, and blue filters.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain telescope with an f/6.3 focal reducer.

Combination of 30, 3 minute images unfiltered,
and 25, 3 minute images each through red, green, and blue filters.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain telescope at prime focus.

Combination of 16, 3 minute images unfiltered.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 20" f/6.8 Dall-Kirkham cassegrain telescope at prime focus.