A colourful galaxy.

The galaxy M81 is revealed using different types of telescopes. This is a combined image from optical, infrared and ultraviolet telescopes. Different parts of the M81 galaxy show up when viewed at different wavelengths: blue parts are ultraviolet, white parts are visible light and red parts are infrared. Spiral galaxy M81 is 12 million light years away and is similar in shape to our own Milky Way.