[M104]

Messier 104

[M104 AAT image]

This image of the Sombrero Galaxy M104 was created by David Malin of the Australian Astronomical Observatory from photographic plates obtained with the 3.9-meter Anglo-Australian Telescope. It is a 3-color composite from three exposures: Red, 30 min (098-04 emulsion with filter RG 610), Green, 20 min (IIa-D/GG 495), and Blue, 20 min (IIa-O/GG 385), all taken by David Malin.

The Sombrero structure is obvious in this image. Dominating is a bright, vast bulge, consisting of billions of old faint stars, and elliptical structure around a nucleus hidden by this brightness. Also prominent is the spiral disk, which is seen almost edge-on, but still dust and suggestions of a spiral structure can be traced. The domination of the bulge causes the classification of M104 as a spiral galaxy of type "Sa."

This images is copyrighted by the Australian Astronomical Observatory; see their usage policy.

  • David Malin's informations on this image
  • Wide field version of this image
  • Also note David Malin's deep image revealing M104's huge extended halo
  • More images of David Malin

    Hartmut Frommert
    Christine Kronberg
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    Last Modification: July 3, 2003