The Sombrero Galaxy, a mysterious sight in Earth’s sky, has been reimagined by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope with stunning new details. Located 31 million light-years away in the Virgo constellation, this enigmatic galaxy appears as a disk-shaped wonder with a glowing center.
Characterized as a peculiar galaxy that defies classification, the Sombrero Galaxy boasts thick dust lanes that give it a unique border, much like the rim of an elaborate hat. First observed by Hubble in 2003, its image has become one of the telescope’s most cherished shots, now reprocessed to reveal intricate details and subtle starlight.
With only about one new star produced annually, this galaxy is relatively inactive in terms of star formation. Nonetheless, it remains a captivating subject for astronomers due to its bright appearance and challenging orientation. The newly released image highlights an active supermassive black hole at the center, boasting a mass roughly nine billion times that of our Sun.
JWST observations confirm the presence of clumpy dust near the galaxy’s outer reaches and a vibrant central region. While difficult to study due to its edge-on orientation, the Sombrero Galaxy continues to captivate astronomers with its distinct appearance. Download high-resolution wallpapers of this breathtaking image on the ESA Hubble website.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/hubble-revisits-magnificent-sombrero-galaxy-in-stunning-new-image