A new mid-infrared image from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope showcases the Sombrero galaxy (Messier 104). Unlike visible-light images, which highlight its glowing core, Webb's MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) reveals a smooth inner disk and intricate details of the galaxy's outer ring. This observation provides insights into the distribution of dust, a crucial element for astronomical object formation.
Researchers note that the clumpy nature of the dust, with MIRI detecting carbon-containing molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, may indicate young star-forming regions. However, the Sombrero galaxy is not a prolific star formation site, producing less than one solar mass of stars annually, compared to the Milky Way's two solar masses.
The galaxy's supermassive black hole, classified as a low luminosity active galactic nucleus (AGN), weighs approximately 9 billion solar masses and consumes material slowly while emitting a relatively small jet.
Additionally, the Sombrero galaxy contains around 2000 globular clusters, offering astronomers a unique opportunity to study stars of varying masses within a single system.
In contrast, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a new image of the spiral galaxy NGC 2090, notable for its role in calibrating the Tully-Fisher distance method. The galaxy is located 40 million light-years away and is characterized as a flocculent spiral, with visible winding lanes of light among its dusty disk.
NGC 2090 is still active, hosting clusters of star formation at various evolutionary stages. Observations from both Hubble and Webb contribute to a comprehensive understanding of galaxy evolution.