A Celestial Celebration for Hubble's 35th Anniversary

In honor of the 35th anniversary of the iconic NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, ESA/Hubble has released a breathtaking new image of the Sombrero Galaxy, also known as Messier 104. Renowned for its striking visuals, this galaxy captivates both seasoned astronomers and amateur stargazers alike, blending characteristics of spiral and elliptical types.

Revisiting a Cosmic Favorite

As part of the ongoing celebrations, ESA/Hubble is showcasing a series of new images that revisit some of Hubble’s most beloved targets. This latest release, featuring cutting-edge image processing techniques, reveals stunning details within the galaxy's disc, along with a plethora of background stars and distant galaxies.

History of Hubble's Glimpses into the Sombrero Galaxy

Over the past two decades, Hubble has provided several glimpses of the Sombrero Galaxy, the most notable being a 2003 image that cemented its popularity. Moreover, the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope is expected to unveil an entirely fresh perspective of this mesmerizing cosmic wonder in November 2024.

The Marvel of the Sombrero Galaxy

Located approximately 30 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo, the Sombrero Galaxy is unmistakable. Its edge-on view showcases a softly glowing bulge and a sharply defined disc that evokes the image of a classic Mexican sombrero, giving the galaxy its charming name.

A Galaxial Puzzle: Stars and Formation Rates

Despite its starry composition, the Sombrero Galaxy is surprisingly not a bustling hub of star formation. Each year, fewer than one solar mass of gas is transformed into stars within its dusty disc. Even its central supermassive black hole, weighing in at an astonishing 9 billion solar masses—over 2000 times more massive than the Milky Way's black hole—remains relatively serene.

Spotting the Sombrero from Earth

While the Sombrero Galaxy can't be seen with the naked eye, it becomes accessible through a modest amateur telescope. From our vantage point, it spans about one-third the diameter of the full Moon. Because Hubble's narrow field of view cannot capture the entire galaxy in one shot, this mesmerizing image is actually a mosaic of several stitched-together snapshots.

An Artistic Cosmic Perspective

One of the standout features of the Sombrero Galaxy is its unique viewing angle, tilted just six degrees off its equator. This perspective allows intricate clumps and strands of dust to contrast brilliantly against the luminous galactic nucleus, creating a celestial sight akin to the iconic rings of Saturn—but on a staggering galactic scale.