The Sombrero Galaxy

Messier Object 104, The Sombrero Galaxy
 

 

Image Information
Date Imaged ?/2004
Location Imaged From Tierra del Sol, CA
Equipment Telescope: Meade 8 " LX200
Mount: Meade Standard Wedge
Camera: SBIG ST-7e
Focal Ratio: f/10
Exposure Information

1x 300 Seconds

The Sombrero Galaxy (also known as M104 or NGC 4594) is an unbarred spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It has a bright nucleus, an unusually large central bulge, and a prominent dust lane in its inclined disk. The dark dust lane and the bulge give this galaxy the appearance of a sombrero. The galaxy has an apparent magnitude of 9.0, making it a galaxy that can easily be seen with amateur telescopes. The large bulge, the central supermassive black hole, and the dust lane all attract the attention of professional astronomers.