Description:
M104, also known as the Sombrero Galaxy, is one of the most striking galaxies in the night sky. Located about 30 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo, it is famous for its bright central bulge and the dark band of dust that cuts across its disk, giving it the appearance of a wide-brimmed hat.
This dramatic structure is caused by thick lanes of gas and dust surrounding the galaxy’s core, where new stars may form. At its centre lies a supermassive black hole, adding to the galaxy’s energetic and mysterious nature.
Seen almost edge-on from Earth, M104 offers a beautiful view of both a spiral galaxy’s disk and the glowing halo of older stars around it.