New space images reveal an enormous halo around this famed galaxy
New images from the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile reveal a massive halo surrounding the Sombrero Galaxy. The halo extends approximately 150,000 light-years across, tripling the apparent size of the galaxy. The observations were made using the Dark Energy Camera on the Victor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope.
- ▪The Sombrero Galaxy is located in the constellation Virgo and is part of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster.
- ▪The newly observed halo is three times the width of the galaxy's main visible structure.
- ▪The Dark Energy Camera, though originally built for a concluded 2019 study, continues to support astronomical discoveries.
- ▪These deep-space images provide new insights into one of the most photographed galaxies.
- ▪The Sombrero Galaxy was already considered one of the largest objects in its galaxy cluster before the halo's discovery.
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Home > Science > Space New space images reveal an enormous halo around this famed galaxy This cosmic target had a glow up. By Elisha Sauers Elisha Sauers Elisha Sauers writes about space for Mashable, taking deep dives into NASA's moon and Mars missions, chatting up astronauts and history-making discoverers, and jetting above the clouds. Through 17 years of reporting, she's covered a variety of topics, including health, business, and government, with a penchant for public records requests. She previously worked for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia, and The Capital in Annapolis, Maryland. Her work has earned numerous state awards, including the Virginia Press Association's top honor, Best in Show, and national recognition for narrative storytelling.
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