What is Messier 81?
Q: What is Messier 81?
A: Messier 81 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major.
Q: How far away is Messier 81 from Earth?
A: Messier 81 is approximately 12 million light-years away from Earth.
Q: What is an active galactic nucleus, and does Messier 81 have one?
A: An active galactic nucleus is a region at the center of a galaxy that emits high levels of energy. Messier 81 has an active galactic nucleus, which includes a supermassive black hole.
Q: Why has Messier 81 been well studied by professional astronomers?
A: Messier 81 has been well studied by professional astronomers due to its large size, active galactic nucleus, and brightness.
Q: Who discovered Messier 81, and what is it sometimes called?
A: Johann Elert Bode discovered Messier 81 in 1774, and it is sometimes called "Bode's Galaxy".
Q: Is Messier 81 a popular object for amateur astronomers to observe?
A: Yes, Messier 81 is a popular object for amateur astronomers to observe due to its large size and brightness.
Q: What is the connection between the interstellar dust found in Messier 81's spiral arms and star formation areas?
A: Interstellar dust found in Messier 81's spiral arms is connected with star formation areas, as hot blue stars in these areas heat the dust, causing it to emit infrared energy.
