M81 - Bode's Galaxy

M81 - Bode's Galaxy

Discovered by J.E. Bode in 1774.  M81 is the largest of the "M81 Group" of about a dozen members. M81 is one of the densest galaxies known. It contains the mass of about 250 billion suns which somewhat exceeds the mass of our own Milky Way. However, at a diameter of about 36,000 light years, it is less than a third the size of the Milky Way..

Date:  3-21-01

Telescope: RC10.0 (.75x)        Camera:ST8   

Mount: Losmandy G-11

Exposure Time: LRGB 90min ;20min;20min;20min; 2x2bin

Processing: Maxim,reduced, DDP, Adobe combined