Chandra Release - February 10, 2009

Visual Description: M101

The composite image of the spiral galaxy M101 features bright shades of red, pink, blue and gold braided together. The galaxy is face on and has a distinct spiral shape, with its arms twisting and curving around a central hub. This structure resembles a pinwheel or a whirlpool.  There are several bright spots scattered throughout the galaxy, appearing as blue dots against the backdrop of the red and other hues. This image of  M101 combines data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Spitzer Space Telescope. The colors correspond to the following wavelengths: The X-rays detected by Chandra are colored blue. Sources of X-rays include million-degree gas, the debris from exploded stars, and material zooming around neutron stars and black holes. The red color shows Spitzer's view in infrared light. It highlights the heat emitted by dust lanes in the galaxy where stars can form. Finally, the yellow coloring is visible light data from Hubble. Most of this light comes from stars, and they trace the same spiral structure as the dust lanes.