Template:POTD/2012-03-30
Picture of the day archives
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2012 March
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Picture of the day
Messier 81
, also known as
NGC 3031
or
Bode's Galaxy
, is a
spiral galaxy
about
12 million
light-years
from Earth in the constellation
Ursa Major
. Due to its relative proximity, large size and
active galactic nucleus
, Messier 81 has been studied extensively by professional
astronomers
. Its relatively high brightness also makes it a popular target for
amateur astronomers
.
Photo:
NASA
,
ESA
,
STScI
/
AURA
Archive
–
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