Sombrero Galaxy,composite image in X-ray,infrared and visible light. This galaxy,also known as M104 and NGC 4594,is named for its characteristic shape. The X-ray data,from the Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO) is blue,and shows hot gases in the galaxy and background quasars. The visible light data (green) is from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and shows the galaxy's stars,including the central bulge. The infrared data,which is from the Spitzer Space Telescope (SST),is orange and shows the band of dust in the galactic disc. M104 is some 50,000 light years across,and around 28 million light years from Earth,in the constellation of Virgo. Image published in 2007 |