Previous Images
Here are some images which have been taken at various wavelengths. Each wavelength is able to pick up different degrees of detail, and show various traits of the galaxies. All images and information is from http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/EPO/cosmic_classroom/multiwavelength_astronomy/multiwavelength_museum/images/m51galex.gif&imgrefurl unless stated otherwise.
The above image shows M51 in visible (left) and infared (right)
The visible image was taken with the Kitt Peak National Observatory 2.1m telescope on March 28-29, 2003 at wavelengths B,V,R and H-alpha. The exposure times were 12 minutes, 12 minutes, 6 minutes, and 30 minutes, respectively. The field of view of this image is 9.9 X 13.7 acrmin.
The infrared image was taken with the Spitzer Space Telescope on May 18 and May 22, 2004 at wavelengths 3.6 (blue), 4.5 (blue - green), 5.6 (yellow), and 8.0 (red) microns. The exposuree time was 4 minutes for all. The field of view of this image is 9.9 X 13.7 arcmin.
These visible and infrared images show similar features. Both of these images display the beautiful sweeping spiral arms, and both showcase intense star formation regions. The star formation regions are even more vibrant in the infrared images being displayed as bright blue regions.
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/Media/releases/ssc2004-19/ssc2004-19a.shtml
The above image shows M51 in xray.
This image was taken by the Chandra telescope, and the field of view of this image is 10 X 11.6 arcmin.
The xray image shows the central regions of the two galaxies which are very full of energy. Most of the point - sources in this image are caused by black holes and neutron stars.
The above image is M51 in ultraviolet.
This image was taken by GALEX on June 19th and 20th, 2003. It was taken with FUV (colored blue) and NUV (colored red) detectors. The image is 20X30 arcmin, and had an exposure time of 2000 seconds.
Ultraviolet images are best to display the hottest stars in the galaxy.
The above image is M51 in radio, and it was taken by the VLA telescope.
It displays the same vauge shape as the other images, which display the spiral arms more prominently. It is believed that the red blob that is connected to the southern spiral arm is a background quasar. It is also shown in the xray image.
The above image shows M51 at mininfrared (15 microns).
THis image was taken by the European Space Agency's Infrared Space Observatory.
This mid infrared image is good for tracing dust and studying star formation in spiral galaxies. This image prominantly displays the knots of star formation that occurs in the arms of M51.
Any information from the images which is missing was unfortunately not able to be found.