Sombrero Galaxy (M104) Type, Location, Discovery

The Sombrero Galaxy, known as M104, is a distinctive spiral galaxy located in the constellation Virgo. Sombrero Galaxy’s appearance is characterized by its bright central bulge and dust lane. Sombrero Galaxy’s location in the night sky makes it a target for amateur astronomers and researchers. Learn about Sombrero Galaxy’s distance from Earth, its size, and its features. Sombrero Galaxy provides insights into galactic evolution and structure.

The Sombrero Galaxy is classified as an unbarred spiral galaxy. The galaxy features a large central bulge measuring 12,000 light-years in diameter. A dust lane encircles the galaxy, spanning 3,000 light-years. Sombrero Galaxy contains an estimated 800 billion stars within its 50,000 light-year diameter.

The Sombrero Galaxy is located in the constellation Virgo, part of the Virgo cluster. The galaxy’s coordinates are Right ascension 12h 39m 59.4s and Declination -11° 37′ 23″. Sombrero Galaxy lies near the border of Virgo and Corvus constellations, at the edge of the Virgo cluster.

Pierre Méchain discovered the Sombrero Galaxy on May 11, 1781. Charles Messier cataloged it as M104 in his famous deep-sky object catalog, published in 1784. William Herschel rediscovered the Sombrero Galaxy on May 9, 1784, using a 6.2-inch reflecting telescope.

The Sombrero Galaxy harbors a supermassive black hole at its center with a mass of 1 billion solar masses. The galaxy’s mass is estimated at 400 billion solar masses, including stars, gas, and dark matter. Sombrero Galaxy hosts up to 2000 globular clusters, surpassing the size of the Milky Way.

Sombrero Galaxy is situated 31.1 million light-years from Earth.  Light from the Sombrero Galaxy travels 31.1 million years to reach Earth, making it 3 times more distant than the Andromeda Galaxy.

What is Sombrero galaxy (m104)?

Sombrero Galaxy (M104) is an unbarred spiral galaxy in the Virgo constellation. The galaxy features a large central bulge, dust ring, and 50,000 light-year diameter. Sombrero Galaxy resembles a hat, earning its nickname. The galaxy contains a supermassive black hole of 1 billion solar masses. 

M104 features a bright central bulge dominating the galaxy’s center. The bulge measures 12,000 light-years in diameter and consists of stars. A dust lane encircles the galaxy, surrounding the central bulge. The dust lane spans 3,000 light-years and results from massive star-forming regions.

The Sombrero Galaxy contains an estimated 800 billion stars within its structure. M104 has a diameter of 50,000 light-years, with spiral arms extending to this length. The galaxy is located about 28 million light-years from Earth, allowing astronomers to study its features in detail.

M104 harbors a supermassive black hole at its center. The black hole has a mass of 1 billion solar masses, making it one of the most massive known in the universe. The galaxy’s mass is estimated at 400 billion solar masses, including its stars, gas, and dark matter.

What type of galaxy is the Sombrero galaxy?

The Sombrero Galaxy, known as M104, belongs to the spiral galaxy type. Spiral galaxies possess massive central bulges and arms. M104 exemplifies a spiral with a core. The Hubble Space Telescope captured an image showcasing its intricate structure. Sombrero Galaxy ranks among the brightest galaxies in the local universe.

The Sombrero galaxy has a classification due to its large central bulge. The bulge is more massive than typical spiral galaxies, composed of older stars. Some astronomers have classified it as a “lenticular galaxy,” intermediate between spiral and elliptical galaxies. Astronomers regard the Sombrero galaxy as a spiral galaxy. The presence of spiral arms supports this classification, containing stars, gas, and dust.

The Sombrero galaxy is classified as a barred spiral galaxy. It has a diameter of 50,000 light-years and contains around 400 billion stars. The galaxy is located 31 million light-years from Earth. The Sombrero galaxy is receding from Earth at a velocity of around 1,000 km/s.

Where is the Sombrero galaxy located?

The Sombrero galaxy lies in the southern sky, located in the constellation Virgo. Virgo is part of the Virgo cluster, a group of galaxies. The Sombrero galaxy is situated 31.1 million light-years away from Earth. Scientists have determined the galaxy’s coordinates as Right ascension 12h 39m 59.4s and Declination -11° 37′ 23″.

Who discovered the Sombrero galaxy?

Pierre Méchain, an astronomer, discovered the Sombrero galaxy on May 11, 1781. Méchain identified the celestial object, known as M104 or NGC 4594. Charles Messier cataloged it as M104 in his famous deep-sky object catalog published in 1784. The Sombrero galaxy is located 31.1 million light-years away in the Virgo constellation.

Charles Messier added the Sombrero Galaxy to his catalog of deep-sky objects in 1784. Messier cataloged the galaxy as M104 and described it as a “bright nebula, discovered in Virgo, between the stars 57 and 58 of that constellation.” The Messier Catalog contains 103 objects, with the Sombrero Galaxy listed as M104.

William Herschel rediscovered the Sombrero Galaxy on May 9, 1784. Herschel used a 6.2-inch reflecting telescope to observe the galaxy and noted the presence of a dust lane across its disk. He described the Sombrero Galaxy as a “nebula” and recognized its spiral structure.

Astronomers debated whether Méchain or Messier deserved credit for discovering the Sombrero Galaxy. The consensus among astronomers accepts that Pierre Méchain first discovered the galaxy in 1781. Méchain’s discovery predates Herschel’s observation by three years, solidifying his claim to the discovery.

When was the Sombrero galaxy discovered?

Pierre Méchain discovered the Sombrero Galaxy (M104) on May 11, 1781, at the Paris Observatory. Charles Messier confirmed the discovery and included it in his catalog. J. Bernoulli, Charles Messier, and Camille Flammarion observed and cataloged the galaxy. The Berliner Astronomisches Jahrbuch published the discovery, disseminating it to the community.

Further observations of the Sombrero Galaxy occurred in 1912. Astronomer V.M. Slipher measured the galaxy’s recession velocity using spectroscopic techniques. Slipher’s measurements revealed a velocity of 1,000 km/s (621 mi/s), providing data on the galaxy’s motion in the universe. The Sombrero Galaxy’s appearance and Slipher’s velocity measurements contributed to its prominence in astronomical research and observation.

What are some facts about the Sombrero galaxy?

The Sombrero galaxy lies 28 million light-years from Earth in the Virgo cluster. The Sombrero galaxy contains hundreds of billions of stars and spans over 100,000 light-years. The galaxy’s supermassive black hole has 800 million solar masses. The galaxy is visible to the naked eye. Telescopes reveal Sombrero’s ring structure and bright central bulge.

Some facts about the Sombrero galaxy are listed below.

• The Sombrero Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy with an edge-on orientation spanning 50,000 light-years.
• The Sombrero Galaxy contains an estimated hundred billion stars.
• The Sombrero Galaxy has a mass equaling 800 billion suns, making it larger than the Milky Way.
• The Sombrero Galaxy hosts up to 2000 globular clusters within its boundaries.
• The Sombrero Galaxy is located in the constellation Virgo, at the edge of the Virgo cluster.
• The Sombrero Galaxy lies near the border of Virgo and Corvus constellations, 9.55 megaparsecs from the Milky Way.
• Observers on Earth are 29 million light-years away from the Sombrero Galaxy .
• The Sombrero Galaxy can be viewed through telescopes due to its apparent magnitude of 8.
• The Sombrero Galaxy is designated as M104 or NGC 4594 by astronomers.
• The Sombrero Galaxy was discovered by Pierre Méchain on May 11, 1781, and rediscovered by William Herschel in 1784.
• Astronomers can view the Sombrero Galaxy through telescopes due to its apparent magnitude of 8.

What is the size of the Sombrero galaxy?

The Sombrero galaxy spans 50,000 light-years across its disk. The galaxy contains 400 billion stars and weighs 800 billion solar masses. Located 30 million light-years from Earth, it features an unbarred spiral structure with a large central bulge and halo. The Sombrero galaxy possesses a central black hole.

Angular measurements further illustrate the galaxy’s expanse. The diameter along the Sombrero Galaxy’s long axis spans 9 arcminutes. Its axis angular diameter measures 4 arcminutes. The galaxy’s size encompasses a central bulge and a disk of stars, gas, and dust, contributing to its appearance and scientific significance.

What is the age of the Sombrero galaxy?

The Sombrero galaxy is estimated to be 13 billion years old. Its disk formed 10 billion years ago. The bulge has ages ranging from 13 to 15 billion years. Astronomers determined these ages through observations of the galaxy’s features and structure.

How many stars are in the Sombrero galaxy?

The Sombrero galaxy contains 100 billion stars. Astronomers estimate this number based on Hubble Space Telescope observations. The estimate derives from measurements of the galaxy’s luminosity and mass. 100 billion stars is an underestimate, as it does not include stars obscured by dust or interstellar matter.

A mass-based estimate indicates the Sombrero galaxy houses 800 billion stars. The total mass of the Sombrero galaxy, 400 billion solar masses, forms the basis for this calculation. Astronomers convert the galaxy’s mass into a number of stars, assuming each star has a mass equivalent to our Sun. The Sombrero galaxy’s mass measures 4 x 10^41 kilograms. Dividing this mass by the Sun’s mass of 2 x 10^30 kilograms yields the estimate of 800 billion stars.

Scientists consider the mass-based method more reliable than the Earth population estimate. Uncertainties in mass estimates and assumptions about stellar mass distribution affect the accuracy of star count estimates. All estimation methods indicate the Sombrero galaxy contains hundreds of billions of stars. The Sombrero galaxy ranks as one of the populous galaxies in our cosmic neighborhood.

How far is the Sombrero galaxy from Earth?

The Sombrero galaxy (M104) is located 31.1 million light-years from Earth. NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database provided this measurement in 2019 using the Tully-Fisher relation method. The Sombrero galaxy’s distance is 3 times that of the Andromeda Galaxy, our closest major galactic neighbor. Light from the Sombrero galaxy travels 31.1 million years to reach Earth.

Can you see the Sombrero galaxy through the telescope?

Telescopes reveal the Sombrero galaxy on clear nights. Observers cannot see it with the naked eye. Spica, seen without aid, serves as a reference point. Astronomers locate the Sombrero galaxy 20 degrees east and north of Spica. The galaxy appears as a patch with a distinctive central bulge through telescopes.

Telescopes with 8-inch apertures or larger reveal details of the galaxy’s structure. The Sombrero Galaxy has a visual magnitude of 8.0, making it a bright object in the night sky.

Telescopes show the Sombrero Galaxy as an oval-shaped object. Observers will see a prominent central bulge and a surrounding disk. The galaxy’s diameter spans 8.6 arcminutes, appearing large compared to other galaxies.

The Sombrero Galaxy can be viewed at night with dark skies. Rural areas away from city lights provide good visibility. Spring evenings in the Northern Hemisphere are good for observing the galaxy in the constellation Virgo.

The Sombrero Galaxy lies 31 million light-years from Earth. Its diameter measures around 50,000 light-years. The galaxy’s bulge spans 10,000 light-years in diameter and contains a supermassive black hole with a mass of 1 billion solar masses.