Picture of the day - April 2, 2008

Spiral Galaxy M104 - The "Sombrero Galaxy"

Photo courtesy of NASA. Today's picture features one of the most distinctive galaxies in the universe: Spiral Galaxy M104, commonly known as "The Sombrero Galaxy". What makes M104 so interesting is the fact that we see it "edge-on", almost like a dinner plate or, well...a Mexican sombrero. From edge to edge, M104 is approximately 50,000 light years wide. To put this size into perspective, even though light travels at a dizzying 186,000 miles per second, it would take an astounding 50,000 years for a "particle" of light to travel from one side of the galaxy to the other! And to put the size of the universe itself into perspective, it contains literally billions of galaxies. This stunning image was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, an amazing device that has changed the way we see the universe more than any other technological development in the history of the world. Just think, here we sit on planet earth looking at a crystal-clear image of a galaxy about the size of our own that is located some 28 million light years away from us. Will wonders never cease?   Click here to comment on this picture.   Visit the POTD Archives for previous "Pictures Of The Day"!     Submit a photo of your own!                                 Place the "Picture of the Day" on your website, for free! Why I publish the "Picture of the Day"