One of the brightest galaxies in the sky is similar in size to our Milky Way, is the Spiral Galaxy M

One of the brightest galaxies in the sky is similar in size to our Milky Way, is the Spiral Galaxy M81. “Scrutiny of variable stars in M81 has yielded one of the best determined distances for an external galaxy  – 11.8 million light-years. The grand spiral galaxy can be found toward the northern constellation of the Great Bear (Ursa Major). “

Image Credit: NASA,ESA,ESO