New space images reveal an enormous halo around this famed galaxy
New images from the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory reveal a vast halo stretching about 150,000 light-years around the Sombrero Galaxy, three times its visible width. The halo, captured in unprecedented detail, suggests the galaxy may have merged with a smaller satellite galaxy in the past. The observations were made using the Dark Energy Camera on the Victor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope. A faint stellar stream extending from the galaxy further supports evidence of such a merger.
- ▪The Sombrero Galaxy's newly imaged halo spans approximately 150,000 light-years, making it three times wider than the galaxy's main disk.
- ▪The images were captured by the Dark Energy Camera on the NSF's Victor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope in Chile.
- ▪The halo and a visible stellar stream indicate the Sombrero Galaxy likely absorbed stars from a past merger with a smaller galaxy.
- ▪The Sombrero Galaxy, also known as Messier 104, is located about 30 million light-years away in the Virgo constellation.
- ▪Though discovered in 1781, the galaxy was not formally added to the Messier Catalogue until 1921.
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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. For each year she has covered space, Sauers has won National Headliner Awards, including first place for her Sex in Space series. Send space tips and story ideas to [email protected] or text 443-684-2489. Follow her on X at @elishasauers. Read Full Bio on April 28, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Flipboard An enormous halo stretching perhaps 150,000 light-years across surrounds the Sombrero Galaxy in the constellation Virgo. Credit: CTIO / NOIRLab / DOE / NSF / AURA / T.A. Rector / D. de Martin & M. Zamani The famous Sombrero Galaxy now appears as more than a wide-brimmed hat floating in deep outer space. New images from the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile reveal a gigantic halo surrounding the galaxy, stretching three times its width. Already considered one of the largest objects in the Virgo Galaxy Cluster, the galaxy's expansive glow is roughly 150,000 light-years wide. The pictures come from the Dark Energy Camera, an instrument mounted on the U.S. National Science Foundation's Victor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope. Though the camera was built for a study that ended in 2019, it continues to aid astronomers, providing new insights for even the most photographed cosmic targets. You May Also Like (() => { window.videoEmbeds = window.videoEmbeds || []; let data =…
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