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The Sombrero Galaxy in Infrared

deathdealer_666 (Premium member) > albums > Astronomy: Highest Resolution

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This floating ring is the size of a galaxy. In fact, it is part of the photogenic Sombrero Galaxy, one of the largest galaxies in the nearby Virgo Cluster of Galaxies. The dark band of dust that obscures the mid-section of the Sombrero Galaxy in optical light actually glows brightly in infrared light. The above image shows the infrared glow, recently recorded by the orbiting Spitzer Space Telescope, superposed in false-color on an existing image taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in optical light. The Sombrero Galaxy, also known as M104, spans about 50,000 light years across and lies 28 million light years away. M104 can be seen with a small telescope in the direction of the constellation Virgo.

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5 comments

  • Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

    said photo of lovejoy lovejoy 2007.04.21 at 10:48:41 PDT

  • It's an endless journey. Thanks for brightening the way with this great collection.

    said photo of rreeves95833 rreeves95833 2007.04.21 at 15:51:16 PDT

  • I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep bringing in more!!!

    said photo of pcoss8 pcoss8 2007.04.27 at 19:45:25 PDT

  • so COOOOOL

    said photo of pjlock350 pjlock350 2007.05.06 at 15:45:42 PDT

  • I have not seen "this one" of "this" galaxy!!!

    said photo of stoneycreeks stoneycreeks 5 months 14 days ago

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