James Webb Telescope Unveils Star-Forming Regions in Sombrero Galaxy

New mid-infrared imagery reveals intricate dust structures and potential stellar nurseries in the quiet, edge-on galaxy M104.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured a detailed mid-infrared image of the Sombrero Galaxy (M104), 30 million light-years away in the Virgo constellation.
The image, taken with JWST's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), reveals clumpy, textured dust structures in the galaxy's outer ring, contrasting with previous observations of a smooth formation.
Astronomers identified carbon-containing molecules, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, suggesting the presence of star-forming regions in the galaxy’s outer ring.
Despite these findings, the Sombrero Galaxy remains relatively inactive in star formation, producing less than one solar mass of stars per year compared to the Milky Way's two solar masses annually.
The new image also highlights a backdrop of distant galaxies, showcasing the JWST's capability to uncover intricate cosmic details and expand understanding of galactic processes.