M81 Bode's Nebula; Ursa Major
Astro-Physics 155EDF f/7
ST-10XME
LRGB 60:35:30:35 minutes
Astrodon Filters
January 24, 2006; Inkom, ID
Comments: Discovered in 1774 by Johann Elbert Bode, this "nebula" is not a nebula at all but a galaxy 11.8 million light years distant to the Milky Way galaxy in which we live. The core of the galaxy betrays its age by the subtle color of ancient red stars while the sweeping spiral arms show distinct regions of new star formation (pink knots) in a sea of young blue stars. A wider field of view may be seen here.
