Click for larger image
| Catalogue and alternative designations | M104,
NGC 4594, Sombrero galaxy
|
| Type | Galaxy |
| Position | 12 39 59, - 11 37 23 |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Camera and Telescope | STXL6303 and 36.8 cm RCOS Ritchey Chretien |
| Focal Ratio | F9 |
| Exposure Details | LRGB image using Astrodon filters. Luminance = 20 minutes, Red = Green = Blue = 60 minutes all unbinned |
| Description | The Sombrero galaxy is easily visible in small telescopes having a visual magnitude of 8.0 and an angular size of 9 x 4 arc minutes. The actual diameter is about 50,000 light years. The distance is about 31.1 million light years. This galaxy is notable for the very bright centre, large central bulge and prominent dust lane. Recent observations by the Spitzer space telescope have shown that the halo of M104 is much more massive than previously thought. |