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Sombrero Galaxy
M104, NGC 4594

Proper Names
Sombrero Galaxy

Messier Number
M104

NGC/IC Number
NGC 4594

Constellation
Virgo

Right Ascension
12h 40m 12s

Declination
-11° 38' 42"

Distance
c.50,000,000 light years
c.15,000,000 parsecs

Magnitude
Apparent: +9.2

Mean Diameter
Apparent: 6'
Actual: c.90,000 light years

Hubble Type
Spiral class a

Optimum Visibility
April/May

A bright spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgo, especially noted for an obscuring band of dust across its central plane.

The Sombrero Galaxy falls within the boundaries of the galaxy-rich constellation of Virgo, but only just. It is a mere 4½ arc minutes from Virgo's border with Corvus.

A view of the Sombrero galaxy, with the dark equatorial band clearly visible.

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