M81, a large type Sb spiral galaxy, is at the center of a small group of galaxies which, in intergalactic terms, is located in our neighborhood, about 7 million light years distant.

M81 is one of the brightest spiral galaxies to be seen in a telescope, and is easily visible in binoculars. It has a "grand-design" spiral pattern, meaning it has pronounced spiral arms which are clearly defined around the whole galaxy. It is a spiral galaxy not unlike our own. In 1993, a type II supernova (1993J) occurred in M81, which reached a brightness of about mag 10.5 in its maximum. M81 was originally discovered by Johann Bode, who found it, together with its neighbor M82, in 1774.

M81 and M82, the full frame of this photograph.