NASA has just released a stunning new image of the Sombrero galaxy taken by JWST

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is back to once again paint a glorious picture of the heavens. At this time, it is a powerful telescope, otherwise known as Messier 104 or M104. What is the result? A beautiful image that recreates our understanding of that space.

When examined closely using JWST’s mid-infrared telescope, the Sombrero galaxy doesn’t quite live up to its name. It looks like an arrow target, complete with a bullseye in the center. That bullseye? It’s actually an amazing black hole.

The sharp resolution provided by Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) finally gives us a detailed glimpse of the outer ring, showing “complex clumps” of dust. Previous photos, taken with visible light, made the area appear “smooth as a blanket.” JWST presents a complex picture.

The “dense nature of the dust” shows carbon-containing molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which indicate the presence of small star-forming regions. This is possible here, although the Sombrero galaxy is thought not to be the center of star formation.

Scientists believe that this galaxy produces less than one solar mass per year. The Milky Way galaxy, where you are reading this, creates about two solar eclipses per year. Messier 82, called the Cigar galaxy, experiences about 20 solar masses per year.

The MIRI image also shows dozens of galaxies dotting the background, all of different shapes and colors. Astronomers are busy studying these galaxies to find out how far away they are. As for the Sombrero galaxy, it is 30 million light-years from Earth deep in the constellation Virgo. Is the galaxy too far away for us to even hope to travel to? Typical independent Virgo.

Indeed, this is the latest glowing image provided by JWST. It recently discovered and gave us a new perspective on, Uranus.