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Hubble Photographs Grand Design Spiral Galaxy M81

by: *Credit:* Hubble data: NASA [ http://www.nasa.gov/ ], ESA [ http://www.spacetelescope.org/ ], and A. Zezas (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics); GALEX data: NASA [ http://www.nasa.gov/ ], JPL-Caltech, GALEX Team, J. Huchra et al. (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics); Spitzer data: NASA [ http://www.nasa.gov/ ]/JPL/Caltech/Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

*Description*: This image combines data from the Hubble Space Telescope, the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) missions. The GALEX ultraviolet data were from the far-UV portion of the spectrum (135 to 175 nanometers). The Spitzer infrared data were taken with the IRAC 4 detector (8 microns). The Hubble data were taken at the blue portion of the spectrum. Technical facts about this news release: About the Object Object Name: M81, NGC 3031, Bode's Galaxy Object Description: Spiral Galaxy Position (J2000): R.A. 09h 55m 33s Dec. +69° 03' 55" Constellation: Ursa Major Distance: Approximately 11.6 million light-years (3.6 megaparsecs) Dimensions: This image is roughy 19 arcminutes (64,000 light-years or roughly 20 kiloparsecs) wide. About the Data Data Description: The ACS data was from the HST proposal 10584: A. Zezas, G. Fabbiano, A. Prestwich, and M. Garcia (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), J. Gallagher (University of Wisconsin, Madison), J. Miller (University of Michigan), P. Kaaret (University of Iowa), V. Kalogera (Northwestern University), M. Ward (University of Durham), and A. King (University of Leicester); and proposal 10250: J. Huchra, P. Barmby, and B. Mcleod (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics) and J. Brodie and J. Strader (University of California, Santa Cruz). Instrument: ACS/WFC Exposure Date(s): Various dates from 2004 - 2006 Filters: F435W ("B"), F606 ("V"), and F814W ("I") About the Image Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) Release Date: May 28, 2007 Color: This image is a composite of many separate exposures made by the ACS instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope. Three filters were used to sample light from broad wavelengths. The color results from assigning different hues (colors) to each monochromatic image. In this case, the assigned colors are: F435W ("B") blue F606W ("V") green F814W ("I") red Orientation: Hubble Photographs Grand Design Spiral Galaxy M81 [ http://imgsrc.hubblesite.org/hu/db/2007/19/images/a/formats/compass_large_web.jpg ] What is Hubble Heritage? A monthly showcase of new and archival Hubble images. Go to the Heritage site. What is an American Astronomical Society Meeting release? A major news announcement issued at an American Astronomical Society meeting, the premier astronomy conference. The sharpest image ever taken of the large "grand design" spiral galaxy M81 is being released today at the American Astronomical Society Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. A spiral-shaped system of stars, dust, and gas clouds, the galaxy's arms wind all the way down into the nucleus. Though the galaxy is located 11.6 million light-years away, the Hubble Space Telescope's view is so sharp that it can resolve individual stars, along with open star clusters, globular star clusters, and even glowing regions of fluorescent gas. The Hubble data was taken with the Advanced Camera for Surveys in 2004 through 2006. This color composite was assembled from images taken in blue, visible, and infrared light. *News Release Number:*: STScI-2007-19j