What is special about the Sombrero Galaxy?
The Sombrero Galaxy is one of the most unusual looking barred spiral galaxies visible from Earth. Its bright nucleus, large central bulge and spiral arms threaded through with a thick dust lane make it look a little like a hat from Mexico.
What type of galaxy is sombrero?
Spiral
About the Object
| Name: | Messier 104, Sombrero Galaxy |
|---|---|
| Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy : Activity : AGN Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral |
| Distance: | 35 million light years |
| Constellation: | Virgo |
| Category: | Galaxies |
Why is it called the Sombrero Galaxy?
This brilliant galaxy was named the Sombrero because of its resemblance to the broad rim and high-topped Mexican hat. At a relatively bright magnitude of +8, M104 is just beyond the limit of naked-eye visibility and is easily seen through small telescopes.
Why is the Sombrero Galaxy important?
The Sombrero Galaxy has a supermassive black hole in its center. The patterns of star movements near the black hole suggest that it could have the same mass as a billion of our suns. Researchers believe that the Sombrero’s black hole is the most massive of any that has been found at the heart of a galaxy.
How big is the Sombrero Galaxy?
25,000 light years
Sombrero Galaxy/Radius
How was the Sombrero Galaxy formed?
Another theory suggests that a cloud of dust was drawn in by the gravity of the elliptical galaxy, and formed a spinning disk around the galaxy’s centre. The Sombrero Galaxy is believed to be similar to Centaurus A, another elliptical galaxy with an embedded disk inside it, located in Centaurus constellation.
Is Sombrero Galaxy lenticular?
The Sombrero Galaxy is a lenticular galaxy situated between the borders of the Virgo and Corvus constellations. It is also designated as Messier 104, NGC 4594, UGC 293, or PGC 42407.
How old is the Sombrero Galaxy?
13.25 billion years
Sombrero Galaxy/Age
What is the history of the sombrero?
The sombrero, its name derived from the Spanish word sombra, meaning “shade,” first appeared in the 15th century. Gentlemen often wore tan, white, or gray felt sombreros, while peasants wore straw. In Mexico the brim of the sombrero could be as much as 2 feet (60 cm) wide.
How bright is the Sombrero Galaxy?
8.98
Sombrero Galaxy/Magnitude
What is the sombrero used for?
Sombrero in English refers to a type of wide-brimmed hat from Mexico, used to shield from the sun. It usually has a high pointed crown, an extra-wide brim (broad enough to cast a shadow over the head, neck and shoulders of the wearer) that is slightly upturned at the edge, and a chin strap to hold it in place.
Why is the sombrero so important to Mexico?
Sombrero Hat originates from the territory of Mexico where it holds many national and cultural symbols. Word “sombrero” comes from Spanish “sombra” which means “shade” or “ shadow” which explains the main purpose of a Mexican sombrero hat – protection from sun and other natural elements.
What does the Sombrero Galaxy look like from Earth?
The Sombrero Galaxy is one of the most unusual looking barred spiral galaxies visible from Earth. Its bright nucleus, large central bulge and spiral arms threaded through with a thick dust lane make it look a little like a hat from Mexico. The dust lane is a ring that circles the bulge of the galaxy, and it is rich with gas, dust, and hydrogen gas.
Who was the first person to discover the Sombrero Galaxy?
German astronomer William Herschel independently discovered the Sombrero Galaxy in 1784, and additionally noted the presence of a “dark stratum” in the galaxy’s disc, what is now called a dust lane. Later astronomers connected Pierre’s and Herschel’s observations. In 1921, the Sombrero Galaxy was designated as a Messier object.
Is the Sombrero Galaxy part of the Virgo Cluster?
The Sombrero Galaxy may not be part of a formal galaxy group, but could be a member of a string of galaxies that extends away from the Virgo Cluster. As many as 2,000 globular clusters swarm around the core of the Sombrero Galaxy, and the number could be related to the size of the central bulge.
Why is Messier 104 called the Sombrero Galaxy?
This dark dust lane and the bulge is the reason for why Messier 104, is called the Sombrero Galaxy. The Sombrero Galaxy has an absolute magnitude of -21.8, and an apparent magnitude of +8.0, making it easily visible with amateur telescopes.