M81 (Galaxy)
R/B-band color composite image from the Second Digitized Sky Survey (DSS2), measuring 21 arcminutes across.
Finder chart
Click and drag the chart above to pan around the sky, or use the mouse wheel to zoom.
Click to enlarge.
From Cambridge , M81 is visible all night because it is circumpolar. It will be highest in the sky shortly before dawn, when it will be lost to twilight at around 05:29, 63° above your northern horizon. At dusk, it will become visible at around 17:27 (EST), 21° above your northern horizon.
Begin typing the name of a town near to you, and then select the town from the list of options
which appear below.
|
Name
M81
|
Object type
Galaxy
|
Position
| Right ascension: | 09h55m [5] |
| Declination: | +69°03' [5] |
| Constellation: | Ursa Major |
| Magnitude: | 6.92 (V) [3] 7.79 (B) [3] 4.76 (J) [3] 4.09 (H) [3] 3.83 (K) [3] |
| Hubble type: | Sab |
| Distance: | 4.2 Mpc 13.6 Mlyr [2] |
| B-V Color (mag): | 0.87 |
Derived quantities
| Absolute mag (V): | -21.18 |
Visibility from Cambridge
All times shown in Cambridge local time.
Events
| 19 Feb 2025 | – Messier 81 is well placed |
| 19 Feb 2026 | – Messier 81 is well placed |
| 19 Feb 2027 | – Messier 81 is well placed |
| 19 Feb 2028 | – Messier 81 is well placed |
| 18 Feb 2029 | – Messier 81 is well placed |
| 19 Feb 2030 | – Messier 81 is well placed |
| 19 Feb 2031 | – Messier 81 is well placed |
| 19 Feb 2032 | – Messier 81 is well placed |