The new image, in infrared frequency, reveals a complex structure in the outer ring of the galaxy and provides innovative insights into the cosmic dust and star formation processes
The sombrero galaxy got its name from the surprising resemblance to the wide-brimmed Mexican hat. But names don't always stand up to closer scrutiny. The Webb telescope found that in moderate AA light, the "crown" of the Sombrero Galaxy, its hallmark, disappears and completely changes its appearance. What once looked like a hat, now looks very different.
A new image taken by the Webb Space Telescope provides a fresh perspective on the Sombrero Galaxy, known for its resemblance to a wide-brimmed Mexican hat. But in this view the galaxy looks more like an archery target.
In the image taken in moderate AA light, the iconic luminous core seen in the light appears dim, replaced by a smooth inner disk. This sharp AA resolution also highlights intricate details in the galaxy's outer ring and sheds light on the distribution of dust, a fundamental building block of astronomical objects. . Previously, in observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope, this outer ring appeared smooth and uniform, but Webb's advanced cameras reveal for the first time a crystalline, textured structure.
This video compares images of the Sombrero Galaxy (Messia 104, M104). The first was photographed in AA light by the Spitzer telescope, the second was photographed in medium AA light by Webb, and the third was photographed in visible light by the Hubble telescope.
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, IPAC, STScI
In Webb's mid-infrared view, the luminous core, the hallmark of the sombrero galaxy seen in visible light images, does not glow and instead reveals a smooth inner disk. The sharp resolution also shows details of the galaxy's outer disk, providing insights into the distribution of dust, an essential building block of astronomical objects. The outer disk of the galaxy, which appears as smooth as a blanket in the images taken by the Spitzer telescope, shows for the first time complex clumps in the AA light.
The researchers say the clumpy nature of the dust, in which Webb detects carbon-containing molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, could indicate the presence of young star-forming regions. But, unlike galaxies studied using the Web, including Messia 82, which produces ten times as many stars as the Milky Way, the Sombrero Galaxy is not very active in star formation. Its rings produce less than one solar mass of stars per year, compared to the roughly two solar masses produced by the Milky Way.
to the James Webb Space Telescope site
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One response
I understand that the bright spot in the center of the galaxy is a black hole effect and this is what causes the galaxy to look like a sombrero, i.e. round?