NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer Mission
The most sensitive and comprehensive ultraviolet image ever taken of the Andromeda Galaxy, our nearest large neighbor galaxy, has been captured by NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer. The image is one of several being released to the public as part of the mission's first collection of pictures.
These cool mosaic images of M 31 Andromeda Galaxy from Galaxy Evolution Explorer home page clearly shows the spiral arms of M 31 and young and old stars within with there technique. Also see images at JPL Planetary Photojournal.
I have yet to see M31 with the naked eye.
SteveS