M104: The Sombrero Galaxy
Credit & Copyright: T. Boroson (NOAO
/USGP), W. Keel
(UA), 0.9-m
Telescope, KPNO
Explanation:
The famous Sombrero galaxy (M104) is a bright
nearby spiral galaxy. The prominent
dust lane and halo of stars and
globular
clusters
give this galaxy its name. Something very energetic is going on
in the
Sombrero's
center, as much X-ray light
has been detected from it. This
X-ray
emission coupled with unusually high central stellar velocities
cause many astronomers to speculate that a
black hole
lies at the
Sombrero's center
- a
black hole
a billion times the mass of our
Sun.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
