Well the spiral pattern is about the only thing in that picture that I 
have researched, apparently there are many arms on the milky way:
http://members.nova.org/~sol/chview/milkyway.jpg

and here's a photo of a similar looking galaxy:
http://www.eso.org/outreach/gallery/vlt/images/Top20/Top20/top4.html

Though the thing I haven't got is the way that the arms are incomplete, 
so some start halfway out.


Mike Williams wrote:
> Wasn't it Tek who wrote:
> 
>>I don't know much about what's actually out there so any 
>>suggestions would be welcome.
> 
> 
> One thing I do know about spiral galaxies is that they only have two
> arms. There are a few galaxies that look like they might have more, but
> it's probably an illusion.
> 
> We don't understand why galaxies have spirals, but it is conjectured
> that the dual nature of the spiral might originate from some compact
> body that emitted two powerful jets in opposite directions. 
>

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