SUPERCEDED-NEWER VERSION AVAILABLE---M104 - the Sombrero Galaxy
SUPERCEDED-NEWER VERSION AVAILABLE---M104 - the Sombrero Galaxy
SUPERCEDED-NEWER VERSION AVAILABLE---M104 - the Sombrero Galaxy
M104 is a distinctive galaxy in that the combination of its large central bulge, and prominent dust lane give it the appearance of a sombrero. M104 is known to have a large central supermassive black hole (as may be common in many galaxies). It is also renowned for having a large number of globular clusters - probably around 1200.

In this image, North is Up. This image is cropped to 77% of the original full frame.

Exposure Details
Lens Celestron C-8 SCT with Lumicon telecompressor
Focal Length 1100mm
Focal Ratio f/5.5
 
Mount Schaefer GEM - 7 1/2
Guiding Unguided
 
Camera Canon 20Da
Exposure 147 subexposures of 45 seconds each at ISO 1600 - total a little over 1 3/4 hours
Calibration 30 darks, 30 flats, 30 bias
 
Date May 6, 2011
Temperature 51F
SQM Reading
Seeing 4 of 5
Location Pine Mountain Club, California
 
Software Used Images Plus 4.0 for camera control, calibration, stacking and digital development. Photoshop CS5 used for color correction, star shrinking, saturation adjustments,unsharp mask, and high pass filter. Noise Ninja for noise reduction.
Notes Unfortunately, my focus on this one is a bit soft, so the image doesn't stand up well to close scrutiny. Oh well...

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M104 - the Sombrero Galaxy