Sombrero Galaxy

For other uses, see M104 (disambiguation).
Sombrero Galaxy
Image taken by Hubble Space Telescope, May−June 2003
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationVirgo
Right ascension12h 39m 59.4s[1]
Declination−11° 37′ 23″[1]
Redshift0.003416±0.000017[1]
Heliocentric radial velocity1,024±5 km/s[1]
Galactocentric velocity904±7 km/s[1]
Distance9.55 ± 0.31 Mpc
(31.1 ± 1.0 Mly)[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)8.0[3][4]
Absolute magnitude (B)−21.8[5]
Characteristics
TypeSA(s)a[1] or E[6]
Size32.32 by 17.45 kiloparsecs (105,400 by 56,900 light-years)
(diameter; 2MASS K-band total)[1]
29.09 kiloparsecs (94,900 light-years)
(diameter; D25.0 B-band isophote)[1]
Apparent size (V)9′ × 4′[1]
Notable featuresUnusually bright center, intriguingly detailed dust band
Other designations
M104, NGC 4594, UGC 293, PGC 42407
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The Sombrero Galaxy (also known as Messier Object 104, M104[4] or NGC 4594) is a peculiar galaxy of unclear classification[6] in the constellation borders of Virgo and Corvus, being about 9.55 megaparsecs (31.1 million light-years)[2] from the Milky Way galaxy. It is a member of the Virgo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster.[7] It has an isophotal diameter of approximately 29.09 to 32.32 kiloparsecs (94,900 to 105,000 light-years),[1] making it slightly bigger in size than the Milky Way.

It has a bright nucleus, an unusually large central bulge, and a prominent dust lane in its outer disk, which is viewed almost edge-on. The dark dust lane and the bulge give it the appearance of a sombrero hat (thus the name). Astronomers initially thought the halo was small and light, indicative of a spiral galaxy; but the Spitzer Space Telescope found that the halo was significantly larger and more massive than previously thought, indicative of a giant elliptical galaxy.[8]

The galaxy has an apparent magnitude of +8.0,[4] making it easily visible with amateur telescopes, and is considered by some authors to be the galaxy with the highest absolute magnitude within a radius of 10 megaparsecs of the Milky Way.[5] Its large bulge, central supermassive black hole, and dust lane all attract the attention of professional astronomers.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for M104. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  2. ^ a b McQuinn, Kristen B. W.; Skillman, Evan D.; Dolphin, Andrew E.; et al. (2016). "The Distance to M104". The Astronomical Journal. 152 (5): 144. arXiv:1610.03857. Bibcode:2016AJ....152..144M. doi:10.3847/0004-6256/152/5/144.
  3. ^ "Messier 104". SEDS Messier Catalog. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "M 104". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2017-09-24.
  5. ^ a b Karachentsev, Igor D.; Karachentseva, Valentina E.; Huchtmeier, Walter K.; Makarov, Dmitry I. (2003). "A Catalog of Neighboring Galaxies". The Astronomical Journal. 127 (4): 2031–2068. Bibcode:2004AJ....127.2031K. doi:10.1086/382905.
  6. ^ a b "Sombrero galaxy has split personality". Science Daily. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  7. ^ "The Virgo III Groups". Atlas of the Universe. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
  8. ^ "Famous Sombrero Galaxy Shows Surprising Side". space.com. 25 April 2012.