The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is set to celebrate its 35th anniversary, and what better way to mark the occasion than with a breathtaking new image of the iconic Sombrero galaxy? Located approximately 28 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo, Messier 104, or NGC 4594, has been a favorite target for astronomers since its discovery by French astronomer Pierre Méchain on May 11, 1781.
This beautiful galaxy is remarkably small, with a diameter of about 49,000 light-years – less than half the size of our Milky Way Galaxy. It boasts an impressive central bulge and a supermassive black hole, which, despite its massive 9 billion solar mass, appears relatively calm compared to its powerful surroundings.
The Hubble team’s latest image showcases the galaxy in unprecedented detail, revealing intricate clumps and strands of dust against its brilliant white nucleus and bulge. The striking effect is reminiscent of Saturn’s rings, but on an epic galactic scale.
However, capturing this stunning view proved challenging due to the Sombrero Galaxy’s unique viewing angle of just six degrees off its equator. This extreme tilt makes it difficult to discern the galaxy’s true structure, which is unclear whether it’s a spiral or elliptical galaxy.
Despite these challenges, Hubble has provided an unparalleled glimpse into the galaxy’s fascinating disk and spheroidal bulge. With a diameter spanning roughly one-third of the full Moon from Earth, this remarkable image serves as a testament to the power and beauty of the Hubble Space Telescope.
Source: https://www.sci.news/astronomy/hubble-messier-104-13836.html