Galaxies M81 and M82

Galaxies M81 and M82 in the constellation Ursa Major (the Big Dipper). M81, on the left, is a classic spiral galaxy oriented at an angle that clearly displays its structure to us. M81 is estimated to lie 12 million light years away. M82, to the right, and is estimated to lie approximately 130,000 light years from M81. Recent observations have detected faint spiral arms in M82, suggesting it is an edge-on spiral. Its most unique feature are jets of red material expanding outward from the core--these jets are only barely visible in this image