M104 — Sombrero Galaxy
Galaxy in Virgo
About
A galaxy in Virgo, about 31 million light-years away, seen almost edge-on with a dark dust lane across a large bulge, like a sombrero hat. It is slightly larger than the Milky Way, with an estimated 1,200 to 2,000 globular clusters.
Imaging tips
- Spans a third to half of the frame at 2,690–4,490 mm on APS-C: use a long focal length.
- The core is bright: one team used 3-minute subs instead of their usual 6 for 63 frames (about 3 hours), and warns of a fine balance between a blown-out core and a dull image.
- Processing is the hard part: the aim is to lift the core enough to show the dust lane without washing it out.
- Stays below 28° altitude from 50°N, so a clear southern horizon helps. Best around March and April.
Facts
- Size
- 9′ × 4′
- Magnitude
- 8.0
- Coordinates
- RA 12h 40.0m, Dec −11° 37′
- Framing, APS-C
- 2690–4490 mm
- Framing, full frame
- longer than 4000 mm
- Best months
- Mar, Apr
- Peak altitude
- 28° from 50°N, 43° from 35°N