Spiral galaxy (M81), optical image. This galaxy lies around 12 million light years from the Earth in the constellation Ursa Major. It is thought to co

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Spiral galaxy (M81), optical image. This galaxy lies around 12 million light years from the Earth in the constellation Ursa Major. It is thought to contain around 250 billion stars, making it slightly smaller than our own galaxy, the Milky Way. The core of the galaxy appears yellow as it contains older stars. The spiral arms contain areas of star birth, with clouds of ionised gas glowing red and dust clouds reflecting starlight appearing blue.

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Size: 4287px × 3165px
Photo credit: © ROBERT GENDLER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 81, 3031, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, birth, bodes, cloud, clouds, dust, evolution, formation, galactic, galaxy, gas, ionised, m81, major, messier, nebulae, ngc, object, space, spiral, star, starbirth, stars, stellar, telescope, universe, ursa