Astronomy Picture of the Day - The Sombrero Galaxy in Infrared

NASA ^ | 13 Aug, 2023 | Credit: R. Kennicutt (Steward Obs.) et al., SSC, JPL, Caltech, NASA

[MtnClimber]

Explanation: This floating ring is the size of a galaxy. In fact, it is a galaxy -- or at least part of one: the photogenic Sombrero Galaxy, one of the largest galaxies in the nearby Virgo Cluster of Galaxies. The dark band of dust that obscures the mid-section of the Sombrero Galaxy in optical light actually glows brightly in infrared light. The featured image, digitally sharpened, shows the infrared glow, recently recorded by the orbiting Spitzer Space Telescope, superposed in false-color on an existing image taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in visible light. The Sombrero Galaxy, also known as M104, spans about 50,000 light years across and lies 28 million light years away. M104 can be seen with a small telescope in the direction of the constellation Virgo.

[MtnClimber]

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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

[MtnClimber]

[MtnClimber]

Pinging the APOD list.

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

[George J. Jetso]

Where are the taco and burrito galaxies?

[SuperLuminal]

I can see a hint of ethnophaulism in this galaxy’s name...

IAC, Hail to the Redskins...

[ClearCase_guy]

Scientists theorize that within that galaxy, there are no badges. They don’ need no stinkin’ badges.

[daniel1212]

Thanks. I flipped it (well, is there a right side up in space?) for our gospel tract https://peacebyjesus.net/where-eternity-new.pdf

[EliRoom8]

Don’t forget that it was Christ who created all this. And despite its splendor will design something even greater after the Great White Throne Judgement.

[Deaf and Discerning]

Looks exactly like one of my Frisbees I had as a kid.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Thanks!

It looks like the very intense galactic core is sweeping matter, hydrogen, dust, stars....out to the outer ring. That is probably just an appearance; what looks like hazey light surrounding the core is probably filled with stars that are too small to see.

That said, I thought of this as soon as I saw it!

[dragnet2]

Where are the taco and burrito galaxies?

You need a mucho grande telescope to see those.

[Red Badger]

[Red Badger]

I’ll never get over Macho Grande.......................