Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Sombrero Galaxy in Infrared

NASA ^ | October 04, 2015 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

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 above 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 optical 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.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: R. Kennicutt (Steward Obs.) et al., SSC, JPL, Caltech, NASA]

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Stunning! Would make a great cover for a cd/album.

[SunkenCiv]

The Sombrero is an old favorite, this particular one is a repeat:

• 2012 March 11: The Sombrero Galaxy in Infrared
• 2015 July 26: The Sombrero Galaxy from Hubble
• 2015 February 05: M104: The Sombrero Galaxy
• 2013 July 15: The Sombrero Galaxy from Hale
• 2007 May 05: Sombrero Galaxy Across the Spectrum
• 2001 October 21: The Sombrero Galaxy from VLT
• November 09 1995: M104: The Sombrero Galaxy
• 2013 October 25: NGC 7814: The Little Sombrero in Pegasus [not the same object]

The Big One

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[SunkenCiv]

A galaxy from the, uh, top would make a great graphic *on* a CD. But of course, we may be the last two people who buy those. ;’)

[SpaceBar]

Isn’t any mention of sombrero now considered racist?

You know, cause like mexican is a race.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Not being an astronomer, I don’t know if 50,000 light-years is big or small. Turns out that’s half the diameter of the Milky Way. I just love the name of our galaxy!

[left that other site]

Oooo!!! Ahhhh!!!

[Textide]

‘Galaxy’ comes from the Greek ‘galaxias’ meaning ‘milky’. The Romans called it ‘via lactea’ meaning the ‘Way (road) of Milk’, hence now we have ‘Milky Way’ in English!

I like the name too.

[elcid1970]

Sombrero Galaxy: where you can find interstellar burritos.

[Paladin2]

Mellow

[kvanbrunt2]

who named our galaxy after a chocolate bar?

[IMTOFT]

“Not being an astronomer, I don’t know if 50,000 light-years is big or small.”

It’s big. Light travels at 186,000 miles per second, so a light year is the distance light can travel in one year, or approximately 5.8 trillion miles...5,800,000,000,000...

[Svartalfiar]

Sombrero Galaxy: where you can find interstellar burritos.

Very close!

Xiblaxian Ultraburrito

[onyx]

Thank you so much, Sunken Civ!!

[Gasshog]

She’s my desktop wallpaper now.

Ole!

[Gasshog]

Sombrero Galaxy: where you can find interstellar burritos.

Surrounded by dense clouds of Gas.

[dr_lew]

I'm "familiar" with the Sombrero Galaxy only because of repeated mention, and the distinctive name. Checking it out with my Starry Night software, I see that it is very close to the sun in the sky right now, but in six months will be in suitable viewing position. Here it is in optimal viewing position from the latitude of Chicago, which recurs every sideral day, so the only requirement is for the sun and moon to be out of the way. Note its apparent diameter is about 5' of arc which is about 1/6 of the moon's apparent diameter, so I guess we ought to be able to see it!

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

Oh noes!!!! Even God is ray-cist!

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Right about c. I was wondering big or small in relation to Milky Way. The Mopilky Way diameter ought to be anarbitrary unitary measure like AU so we know the size quickly.

[SunkenCiv]

The vote was 59% “Milky Way”, but at the time, Snickers was pretty new.