The Sombrero Galaxy (M104) is an edge-on spiral whose brilliant white core and thick, encircling dust lane make it look uncannily like a wide-brimmed Mexican hat — one of the most recognizable galaxies in the sky. Famous for harboring a billion-solar-mass supermassive black hole and roughly 2,000 globular clusters (about ten times the Milky Way's haul), it sits at the southern edge of the Virgo galaxy cluster.

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Across the spectrum

M104 (Sombrero Galaxy)

See it across the spectrum

Spacecraft

Hubble Space Telescope

Another great explorer

Spacecraft

James Webb Space Telescope

Another great explorer

Deep-sky object

Andromeda Galaxy

Another cosmic wonder

Deep-sky object

Antennae Galaxies

Another cosmic wonder

Deep-sky object

Black Eye Galaxy

Another cosmic wonder