M81 is a rather bright galaxy, thanks to its proximity, and if the night is particularly suitable for astronomical observation it can also be identified with a simple pair of binoculars; an instrument like a 60-80 mm refractor telescope shows it as a clear spot without details extended for some primes and elongated in the NNW-SSE direction. A more powerful telescope, on 140-150 mm, allows to notice the structure of the core, much brighter than the peripheral regions, which seem to gradually fade into the darkness of the sky background; with 250-300 mm instruments, the first structures of the spiral are also highlighted, in the form of variations in the brightness of the halo around the nucleus. [1] In the long-exposure or composite photos, the visual field of this and the neighboring M82 may be pervaded by a series of intricate nebulous filaments; this system of gas and dark dust is part of the Integrated Flux Nebulae, a cloud of high galactic latitude belonging to the Milky Way.

Its declination is very northern: in fact this galaxy is circumpolar from much of the northern hemisphere, like all of Europe and North America, beyond the Tropic of Cancer; from the southern hemisphere it is possible to observe it only near the equator. [2] The best time for its observation in the evening sky is between January and August.

M82 is a relatively bright galaxy, thanks also to its proximity, and if the night is particularly suitable for astronomical observation it can also be identified with a simple pair of binoculars; an instrument like a 60–80 mm refractor telescope shows it as a very elongated light spot, extended for some primes and elongated in the ENE-SWS direction. With a more powerful telescope, on 140–150 mm, we note the structure of the nucleus and a large number of irregularities especially in the southern direction, which become much more evident with instruments of 250–300 mm. [3] In the long-exposure or composite photos, the visual field of this and the nearby M81 may be pervaded by a series of intricate nebulous filaments; this system of gas and dark dust is part of the Integrated Flux Nebulae, a cloud of high galactic latitude belonging to the Milky Way.

Its declination is very northern: in fact this galaxy is circumpolar from much of the northern hemisphere, like all of Europe and North America, beyond the Tropic of Cancer; from the southern hemisphere it is possible to observe it only near the equator. [4] The best time for its observation in the evening sky is between January and August.