M101 (NGC5457) is a large (29'x27') fairly bright (mag. 7.9) galaxy. Located 5.5° NNE of Alkaid (the tip star of the Big Dipper's handle) it appears dimmer than it's magnitude rating implies. A good 8-10" telescope should begin to see hints of spiral structure and bright knots.
NGC4605 is an edge on spiral galaxy located 5.5° northeast of Megrez (Delta Ursae Majoris, the star at the junction of Dipper's bowl and handle). Dreyer describes it as bright, large, very much elongated (in p.a. 118°), and with a little, gradual brightening toward the middle.
M40 is not a deepsky object, but a double star found 1.4° NE of Megrez (Delta Ursae Majoris). It forms a nice triangle with the mag. 12.7 galaxy NGC 4290 (visible in a 6") and the star 70 Ursae Majoris.
Three brightish spiral galaxies lie a degree apart from each other, and about 3.5° SSE of Phecda (Gamma Ursae Majoris). NGC4088 (Best 100) is the brightest of these. Described as bright (mag. 11.1), quite large (5.7'x2.2'), elongatged (in p.a. 55), with a little brighter middle, an 8" will show mottled arms, and an off center stellar nucleus. NGC4085 lies 12' to the south. Dreyer describes it as bright (mag. 13), fairly large (2.8'x0.8'), with fairly pronounced elongation (p.a. 78°). It brightens very suddenly toward the middle. The brighter middle is more obvious in 12" and larger instruments. NGC4026 (Best 99) lies 1.1° WNW of NGC4088. Dreyer says it is very bright (mag. 11.7), quite large (5.2'x1.3'), much elongated (p.a. 176°), and with a very sudden and pronounced nucleus ("vsvmbMBN," for all you fans of NGC codes). A nice, edge on spiral.
Often overlooked barred Spiral Galaxy M109 (NGC3992) in Ursa Major. Located .5° SE of Phecda, the south-easten bowl star of the Big Dipper, it shines at mag 10.6. It measures 8'x5' minutes in size.
NGC3941 (Best 98) is a spiral galaxy located in southeastern Ursa Major. It sits on a line between the mag. 3.7 Alula Borealis (Nu Ursae Majoris, 8° separation) and the mag. 2.8 Cor Caroli (Alpha Canum Venaticorum, 12.5° separation). Described as very bright (mag. 11), fairly large (3.5'x2.3'), round, with a mag. 9 star involved. The "star" is actually a stellar nucleus, just visible at higher power in an 8". The mag. 6.5 SAO62754 lies 31' to the ESE.
NGC3877 (Best 97) is one of three major galaxies, and several minor ones, in an area of sky covering 1.5° of sky. It sits 17' south of the star Chi Ursae Majoris, just south of the bowl of the Dipper. Dreyer describes it as bright (mag. 11.9), large (5.5'x1.3'), and moderately elongated (in p.a. 37°). NGC3893 sits 1° NNE of Chi Ursae Majoris. The description reads bright (mag. 10.9), fairly large (4.4'x2.7'), round, and much brighter toward the middle. Increasing aperture helps brighten the middle, as well as produce a mottled appearance. Its very small (1.4'x1.0'), faint (mag. 13.9) companion, NGC3896 sits 5' to the southeast. NGC3893 makes a good jumping off point for three small faint galaxies. NGC3938 (mag. 13, 1.5') lies 31' to the east and is the easiest. NGC3932 is more difficult (mag. 15, 1.1'x0.5') and lies another 15' SSE. NGC3906 may be the most difficult of all (brighter at mag. 13.8, but larger too at 1.9'x1.7') and lies 20' southeast of NGC3893. NGC3949 lies 1.3° east of Chi Ursae Majoris, and is the third bright galaxy of the group. Dreyer says it is quite bright (mag.11.6), fairly large (2.9'x1.6'), pretty much elongated (p.a. 120°), and brightening gradually toward the middle.
NGC3675 (Best 96) is a spiral galaxy located in the central portion of the constellation, 3.1° ESE of Psi Ursae Majoris (mag. 4) and 36' east of 56 Ursae Majoris (mag. 5). The NGC description reads: Very bright (mag. 10.9), quite large (5.9'x3.1'), very much elongated (in p.a. 0°), and brightening very suddenly to a much brighter, stellar nucleus. Many stars lie to the west.
M97 (NGC3587) is a rather faint (mag. 11.2) planetary nebula located 2.3° ESE from Merak, the southwestern star of the Big Dipper's bowl. Dreyer optimistically describes it as very bright. He also calls it large (3'), round, posessing a bright middle and gaps. These gaps form the "eyes" of the Owl Nebula. They require dark skies, and a good 10" telescope. The galaxy M108 (NGC3556) lies .8° NW. M108 is considered bright (mag. 10.7), quite large (8.7'x2.3'), very elongated (PA 79°) and condensed. Countless galaxies fainter than mag. 15 inhabit this image.
NGC3184 (Best 95) is a spiral galaxy located in southwestern Ursa Major, just north of Leo Minor. The nearest "bright" star is Tania Australis (Mu Ursae Majoris), 46' to the east. Dreyer's description reads fairly bright (mag. 10.5), very large (7.4'x7.0'), round, and brightening only very gradually toward the middle. Several other galaxies inhabit this image, the most significant of them is NGC3179. lying 19' south of NGC3184, it shines at mag. 14.1 and covers 1.8'x0.5'. It's small size compensates a little for its dimness.
NGC3079 (Best 93) is the primary galaxy to view in this group of three. Indeed, below 8" will hardly stand a chance seeing more than one. They lie in western Ursa Major, 2.1°rees northeast of the mag. 4.6 Phi Ursae Majoris. Dreyer describes NGC3079 as very bright (mag. 10.6), large (7.5'x1'), and moderately elongated (Dreyer says the position angle is 135 °, others give 165°). Steve Coe reports glimpsing a dark lane with a 13". The other galaxies are the very faint NGC3073 (mag. 13.7, 1.3'x1.2', and 11' west of the southern tip of NGC3079) and the even fainter MCG9-17-9 (mag.14.8, 0.8'x0.3', and 7' west of the northern tip of NGC3079).
NGC3077 (Best 94) is a galactic companion to M81 (M81 lies 47' to the northwest). Dreyer's description reads quite bright (mag. 10.8), quite large (5.3'x4.4'), much brighter toward the middle, and then the peculiar comment "round with ray." A 12" class instrument might catch the "ray" with averted vision, as well as the nearly stellar nucleus.
M81 (NGC3031, sometimes called Bode's nebula) and M82 (NGC3034) are a pair of bright (mags. 7.9 & 9.2) galaxies located 10° NW of Dubhe, the northwestern star of the bowl of the Big Dipper. Separated by .5°, they make a beautiful pair. M81 is a classic spiral (size 27'x14'). M82 (size 11'x4') looks a little strange, even when viewed visually through a telescope.
NGC2841 (Best 92) is a spiral galaxy located in western Ursa Major, 1.8° WSW of Theta Ursae Majoris. Dreyer describes it as very bright, large, and very much elongated (p.a. 147°). Like so many other galaxies, Dreyer says this one brightens very suddenly toward the middle. There is a mag. 10 star involved on the northwestern edge. With the right equipment (a 13") one can see a stellar nucleus and mottled arms.