Sombrero Galaxy - M104

Thick dust lanes encircle the brilliant white core of this spiral galaxy, seen edge on. The picturesque Sombrero Galaxy lies 28 million light years from Earth in the constellation Virgo. This magnificent galaxy is 50,000 light-years across and has an apparent diameter that is nearly one-fifth the diameter of the full moon, a swarm of stars in a pancake-shaped disk with a glowing central halo of stars. A portion of every Posternauts purchase supports young minds through the scholarship fund of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center® Foundation. Learn More Object Name: Sombrero Galaxy, M104, NGC 4594 Release Date: Oct 2, 2003 Image Credits: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)