The image below shows the spiral galaxy M83 (otherwise known as The Southern Pinwheel). This is one of the closest and brightest spiral galaxies in the sky. It is located in the constellation of Hydra (visible in April at 9 PM) and it is easily observed with binoculars. M83 is located 15 million light-years away. It is the perfect place to observe supernova remnants as well as the various stages of the stellar birth and death (spanning over 50,000 light-years). The newest generation of stars (roughly 1 million years old) are visible in large clusters at the edge of the spiral arms. The surrounding gas clouds absorb the ultraviolet light that these stars generate which gives the galaxy the spots of pink light. The stellar winds from the youngest, most massive stars blow away some of this gas revealing bright blue star clusters. The older stars in the galaxy appear yellow or orange.
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