This image is of the Galaxy M101 and is the same type as the Milky Way.
We can “see” the heart and the disc of the galaxy, which is far from its centre and almost in the plane of the disc.
The Milky Way, seen in visible light by the satellite COBE.
The Milky Way, seen in infrared by the satellite COBE. The infrared radiance crosses the clouds of dust, which partially masks the visible light.