| Object type: | Spiral (Sa) Galaxy |
|---|---|
| Distance from Earth: | 42,380,000 light years 13 Megaparsecs |
The Sombrero Galaxy is a spiral galaxy characterized by a dark band of dust through its center which obscures the central bulge or core. M104 is tilted only 6ø from our line of sight. Its central core is quite prominent - M104 resembles an elliptical galaxy with spiral arms tightly wound around it.