×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ

Space

How to spot Bode's galaxy this month

We will never get an image of the Milky Way from above, but M81 or Bode's galaxy is a good stand-in – and now is a great time to see it, says Leah Crane

By Leah Crane

29 January 2025

2JD29PH Bode's Galaxy (Messier 81 or NGC 3031) in the constellation Ursa Major, lying asbout 12 million ly away from Earth having a diameter of about 900 000

M81 or Bode’s galaxy

Alf Jacob Nilsen/Alamy

There is something about seeing our home from a distance that is special – whether it’s spotting your neighbourhood from an aeroplane or looking at pictures of Earth taken from space, it lends a sense of perspective. Astronauts call this the overview effect: a feeling of awe and connection to the communities and world around us, and the beauty of our little green planet. It has always seemed a bit sad to me that we couldn’t get an even broader perspective, a picture of our whole solar system or galaxy from afar,…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, today with our introductory offers

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop