Photos of the Pinwheel galaxy, 27 million years away
NASA scientists took this magnificent photo of the Pinwheel galaxy, also known as Messier 101 using the Spitzer Space Telescope. The galaxy was first discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781 and takes at least 27million years to reach us.
The blue areas within the galaxy are are carbon-containing molecules which, in the right circumstances, have the potential to support life.
The reddish areas on the outskirts are thought to be where the organic materials within the galaxy are being stripped away by harsh radiation from distant stars and galaxies.
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