M81, known as Bode's Galaxy, is a grand design spiral galaxy situated roughly 12 million light-years away in the constellation of Ursa Major. Named after its discoverer, Johann Elert Bode, M81 is one of the most prominent galaxies in the sky, showcasing well-defined spiral arms and a bright nucleus. Spanning about 90,000 light-years in diameter, it's comparable in size to our own Milky Way.

Close by, just 150,000 light-years apart from M81, lies M82, or the Cigar Galaxy. This starburst galaxy is peculiar due to its explosive rate of star formation, triggered by gravitational interactions with its larger neighbor, M81. The intense stellar activity within M82 causes it to shine brightly in infrared wavelengths and eject vast streams of hydrogen gas from its core.

The gravitational dance between M81 and M82 has been ongoing for hundreds of millions of years, shaping the fates of these two galaxies in profound ways. Their interactions offer astronomers valuable insights into galactic evolution and the effects of tidal forces on star formation and galactic structure.

Under dark skies and with the aid of a telescope, both galaxies can be viewed in the same field, presenting a captivating juxtaposition of spiral elegance and starburst fervor.