The Sombrero Galaxy

 
Messier Object 104, The Sombrero Galaxy
 

 

Image Information
Date Imaged 4/26/2008
Location Imaged From Barking Pumpkin Observatory

Tierra del Sol , CA

Equipment Telescope: 10" LX200
Mount: Ulti-Wedge
Camera: SBIG ST2000XM
Astrodon True-Balance RGB Focal Ratio: f/6.3
Exposure Information

L - 9 X10min
RGB - 4 X 10 min

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.