Messier 81 (also known as Bode’s Galaxy, M81 or NGC 3031) is a grand design spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major at an approximate distance of 11,8 million light years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 6,94. With prominent, clearly defined spiral arms, Bode’s Galaxy is an excellent example of a grand design spiral.
Bode’s Galaxy was named after Johann Elert Bode, the German astronomer who discovered it on December 31, 1774, along with the nearby M82. He described the pair as “two small nebulae 3/4 degrees separated.”
Messier 81 (top center in the picture) is the largest member of the M81 Group of galaxies, a group that contains 34 galaxies located in Ursa Major. The M81 Group includes M82 and NGC 3077 (bottom left and bottom right, respectively, in the picture), two galaxies that are strongly affected by their large neighbour. 
Pierre Méchain independently found M81 and M82 in August 1779 and reported the discovery to Charles Messier. Messier determined the positions of both objects and added them to his catalogue on February 9, 1781.

Messier 82 (also known as the Cigar Galaxy, M82 or NGC 3034) is an edge-on starburst galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major at a distance of 11,4 to 12,4 million light years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 8,41. It is the closest starburst galaxy to Earth and serves as a prototype for this type of galaxy. M82 is one of the smallest galaxies listed in the Messier catalogue and inclined about 80 degrees to our view. The galaxy’s edge-on appearance has earned it the name Cigar. The star forming activity in M82 is caused by the galaxy’s interaction with its large neighbour M81 that with tidal forces deforming the galaxy in a process that started some 100 million years ago.

NGC 3077 is a small disrupted elliptical galaxy, a member of the M81 Group, which is located in the northern constellation Ursa Major. Despite being similar to an elliptical galaxy in appearance, it is peculiar for two reasons. First, it shows wispy edges and scattered dust clouds that are probably a result of gravitational interaction with its larger neighbors, similar to the galaxy M82. Second, this galaxy has an active nucleus. It was discovered by William Herschel on November 8, 1801.