by The Sombrero galaxy likely merged with a relatively massive galaxy several billions years ago.
In a new study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, astronomers analyzed wide-field deep images of the Sombrero galaxy’s outskirts obtained with a small amateur telescope with the purpose of detecting any tidal structures — such as stellar streams and tails — from the possible ancient merger.
The Sombrero galaxy is located approximately 28 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo.
Also known as Messier 104, M104 or NGC 4594, the galaxy was discovered on May 11, 1781 by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain.
It has a diameter of approximately 49,000 light-years, about 3 times smaller than our Milky Way Galaxy.
Source
In a new study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, astronomers analyzed wide-field deep images of the Sombrero galaxy’s outskirts obtained with a small amateur telescope with the purpose of detecting any tidal structures — such as stellar streams and tails — from the possible ancient merger.
The Sombrero galaxy is located approximately 28 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo.
Also known as Messier 104, M104 or NGC 4594, the galaxy was discovered on May 11, 1781 by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain.
It has a diameter of approximately 49,000 light-years, about 3 times smaller than our Milky Way Galaxy.
Source
