M-81 and M-82; Bode's Nebula and the Cigar Galaxy
This bright pair of galaxies are a northern hemisphere showcase; especially when in an image together. M-82 on the left has undergone a cataclysmic gravitational interaction with its spiral neighbor M-81 on the right. That is the reason for its irregular shape. These are bright galaxies and are easy visual targets with even small telescopes. With low power they are both seen in the same field.
This image is a two-frame mosaic; each frame being a composite of two 1 hour exposures on hypered Kodak LE 400 film. They were shot with my 12.5" f/7 Newtonian telescope.