M104

NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 5, 2026 showcases M104, the Sombrero Galaxy, highlighting faint tidal streams around it. The feature draws attention to new detail in the galaxy's structure, with space enthusiasts sharing the image widely and discussing what tidal streams reveal about the galaxy's history of mergers and interactions with nearby objects.

Amateur astrophotographer Engelbert Vollmer has released a deep-exposure image of M104, the Sombrero galaxy, published as NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 5, 2026. The image reveals faint tidal streams around the galaxy, which on shorter exposures appears hat-shaped. The discovery of these extended stellar features is drawing attention among astronomy enthusiasts discussing how such structures show the galaxy's merger history.

NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 5, 2026 features M104, the Sombrero Galaxy, with new imagery highlighting its tidal streams. The image and accompanying article are published on NASA's science site, and space enthusiasts are sharing the picture, praising the detailed view of the galaxy's structure and the faint streams surrounding it.