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Galaxies

Sombrero Galaxy

As each slider bar is manipulated, the view transitions from visible light to infrared light. In visible light: The dust ring is partially hidden in the galaxy's visible-light glow. In infrared light: The galaxy's dust and inner flat disk are clear when viewing infrared. As each slider bar is manipulated, the view transitions from visible light to infrared light. In visible light: The dust ring is partially hidden in the galaxy's visible-light glow. In infrared light: The galaxy's dust and inner flat disk are clear when viewing infrared.
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Infrared:
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Sombrero Galaxy

The Sombrero Galaxy has a distinctive ring of dust that circles a smooth bulge of stars. The galaxy's dust and inner flat disk are very clear in the infrared. The Sombrero Galaxy may be a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way, but because of its extremely edge-on orientation, we see it in the flat pancake aspect. Our Milky Way would also have this appearance if viewed from the side angle.
Visible: The dust ring is partially hidden in the galaxy's visible-light glow.
Infrared: The galaxy's dust and inner flat disk are clear when viewing infrared.
CREDITS: Visible: NASA/Hubble Space Telescope/Hubble Heritage Team. Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Kennicutt (University of Arizona) and the SINGS Team.