Visible-light view of Messier 81

Spitzer_ssc2003-06d2_1024

spitzer_ssc2003-06d2 December 18th, 2003

Credit: N.A. Sharp (NOAO/AURA/NSF)

This image shows a visible-light view of the nearby galaxy Messier 81 (M81). Located in the northern constellation of Ursa Major (which also includes the Big Dipper), M81 is easily visible through binoculars or a small telescope. M81 is located at a distance of 12 million light-years. This image was obtained with a ground-based telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory and traces the distribution of stars in M81. The image reveals a very smooth stellar mass distribution, with the spiral arms relatively subdued.

Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1078-ssc2003-06d2-Visible-light-view-of-Messier-81

Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy

Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Bode's Galaxy Messier 81 M81 NGC 3031 UGC 5318
Subject - Local Universe
Galaxy > Type > Spiral

Distance

Universescale2
12,000,000 light years
Spitzer_ssc2003-06d2_128
 

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 9h 55m 34.0s
DEC = 69° 3’ 54.9”
Orientation
North is 268.7° CCW
Field of View
23.5 x 17.9 arcminutes
Constellation
Ursa Major

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Blue NOAO Optical (B-band) 440.0 nm
Green NOAO Optical (V-band) 550.0 nm
Red NOAO Optical (R-band) 700.0 nm
Spectrum_base
Blue
Green
Red
Spitzer_ssc2003-06d2_1280
×
ID
ssc2003-06d2
Subject Category
C.5.1.1.  
Subject Name
Bode's Galaxy, Messier 81, M81, NGC 3031, UGC 5318
Credits
N.A. Sharp (NOAO/AURA/NSF)
Release Date
2003-12-18
Lightyears
12,000,000
Redshift
-0.000113
Reference Url
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1078-ssc2003-06d2-Visible-light-view-of-Messier-81
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Distance taken from Fast Facts and NED
Facility
NOAO, NOAO, NOAO
Instrument
Color Assignment
Blue, Green, Red
Band
Optical, Optical, Optical
Bandpass
B-band, V-band, R-band
Central Wavelength
440, 550, 700
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
148.891519342434, 69.065246176994862
Reference Dimension
1158, 878
Reference Pixel
579, 439
Scale
-0.00033889738260893987, 0.00033889738260893987
Rotation
268.70316683549561
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Spitzer Space Telescope
URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Name
Spitzer Space Telescope
Email
Telephone
Address
1200 E. California Blvd.
City
Pasadena
State/Province
CA
Postal Code
91125
Country
USA
Rights
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy
Publisher
Spitzer Science Center
Publisher ID
spitzer
Resource ID
ssc2003-06d2.tif
Metadata Date
2012-10-11
Metadata Version
1.1
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

×
Universescalefull
12,000,000 light years

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