SpaceWe will never get an image of the Milky Way from above, but M81 or Bode's galaxy is a good stand-in and now is a great time to see it, says Leah Crane 29 January 2025 M81 or Bodes galaxyAlf Jacob Nilsen/AlamyThere is something about seeing our home from a distance that is special whether its spotting your neighbourhood from an aeroplane or looking at pictures of Earth taken from space, it lends a sense of perspective. Astronauts call this the overview effect: a feeling of awe and connection to the communities and world around us, and the beauty of our little green planet. It has always seemed a bit sad to me that we couldnt get an even broader perspective, a picture of our whole solar system or galaxy from afar,