M 104, the "sombrero galaxy", is a spiral galaxy that we see nearly edge-on
in the constellation Virgo. It has an unusually large central bulge, and a
prominant dust lane that rings the edge of the galaxy's main disk. M 104 is
unusually rich in globular clusters,those spherical communities of stars that
populate a galaxy's outer halo. Estimates of the number of globular clusters
in M 104 range as high as 2000, 10 times more than our Milky Way Galaxy contains.
These globular clusters seem to come in 2 distinct generations. The younger population
of clusters may have been captured from other galaxies that have merged with M 104,
or they may have formed within M 104 more recently than the older clusters. (Some of the
dim lights around the main disk of M 104 in this image are globular clusters). M 104 is
50,000 light years across (about half the size of the Milky Way), and it is 29 million
light years from earth.

Image data:
Camera: SBIG STL-1100
Exposure: LRGB = 150:40:30:40
Telescope: 12.5" Hyperion