Spitzer, Hubble and the Galaxy Evolution Explorer telescopes were used to make this image of the Messier 81 spiral galaxy. M81 is classified as a "grand design galaxy". In grand design galaxies the spirals curl all the way to the center.

The colours in this picture are a trio of light wavelengths. Blue is ultraviolet light captured by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer; yellowish white is visible light seen by Hubble; and red is infrared light detected by Spitzer. The blue areas show the youngest stars, while the reddish-pink denotes lanes of dust that line the spiral arms. The orange in the center represents older stars.

:: NASA