NASA has released a stunning new image of the iconic Sombrero Galaxy, showcasing its intricate details in unprecedented clarity. The galaxy, located approximately 30 million light-years from Earth, is viewed nearly edge-on by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Named after its resemblance to a Mexican sombrero, the Sombrero Galaxy features a bright central bulge and a vast, dusty disk that encircles it. New image processing techniques have revealed these details in breathtaking detail.
The galaxy’s viewing angle of just six degrees off the equator creates an effect similar to Saturn’s rings but on a galactic scale. Astronomers are unsure if the Sombrero is a spiral or elliptical galaxy due to its extreme angle, but it is packed with stars and hosts a supermassive black hole.
The new image allows scientists to study metal-rich stars in the galaxy’s halo, suggesting that the Sombrero may have merged with a massive galaxy billions of years ago. This discovery provides insight into the galaxy’s unique shape and evolution.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/hubble-space-telescope/iconic-sombrero-galaxy-shines-in-reprocessed-hubble-telescope-view-image