M104 Sombrero Galaxy

The Sombrero Galaxy (M104 / NGC 4594) is a massive, edge-on galaxy located ~9.55 Mpc away on the Virgo-Corvus border. Though traditionally classified as a spiral, Spitzer data revealed an extensive, massive halo more typical of ellipticals. With a diameter of ~95–105 kly and an apparent magnitude of +8.0, it features a bright bulge, a prominent dust lane, and a central supermassive black hole. M104 is part of the Virgo II Groups and may be the most luminous galaxy within 10 Mpc of the Milky Way. Its hybrid morphology and halo structure make it a key object of extragalactic studies.