Bodes Nebula was recorded by Johann Bode in 1774, thus the classification as a nebula.
It is located about 12 million light years away in the constillation Ursa Major at RA 09hr 55m 33sec Dec +69deg 3min 55sec.
M81 is a member of a group of some 31galaxys covering some 20 X 40 degrees in Ursa Major.