Sombrero Galaxy M104

Astrophotography by David Gares

Sombrero Galaxy M104

M104, the Sombrero Galaxy, is named for its appearance as a brimmed hat with the edge formed by the prominent dust lane. This is a very photogenic object, and this image could have been much better. A bright moon was out and M104 was also low in the light-polluted sky, yet this shot still came out okay. We view this galaxy nearly edge-on since there's only a 6 degree tilt. X-ray emissions show material falling into the compact core of the galaxy where a one-billion solar-mass resides.

Sombrero Galaxy M104
(Click image to enlarge)

Object Details:

Type: Spiral Galaxy
Constellation: Virgo
Distance: 50 million light-years
Diameter: 130,000 light-years

Image Details:

Date: April 10, 2004
Site: Harahan, LA
Exposure: CCD, 5 x 5 min.
Filters: Orion SkyGlow LPR
Processing: MSB Astroart 3.0
Telescope: 10" Meade LX200
Reducer: Meade, f/4.3
CCD: Starlight Express MX7C
Autoguider: S.T.A.R. 2000