Scientists detect an enormous halo around the iconic Sombrero Galaxy — Space photo of the week
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By Jamie Carter
Published on May 3, 2026.
Scientists have discovered an enormous halo around the Sombrero Galaxy (M104), 30 million light-years away. The image was taken from the Dark Energy Camera at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. The galaxy's central bulge and dark dust trail, which together resemble a traditional Mexican hat, were revealed to be never-before-seen features. The halo extended beyond the galaxy's bright disk, significantly increasing its apparent size. The new image also reveals a faint stellar stream that breaks the galaxy’s perfect symmetry and suggests past violent interactions with a smaller satellite galaxy.
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