# @europeanspaceagency on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DJuFkaTNQkG
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/35582143-europeanspaceagency-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/120a5331af.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-05-14T15:50:00.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** J.L.Lopez (@xandler80) — https://gondola.cc/xandler80

## Caption

Hubble tips its hat… to the Sombrero Galaxy! 🤠

Sitting about 30 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo, this galaxy is instantly recognisable thanks to its brilliant bulge and dramatic, dusty disc, resembling the crown and brim of a classic Mexican hat.

But this isn’t your average galactic re-release. This image uses new processing techniques to show off more detail in the disc, and even more background stars and galaxies. A cosmic glow-up, if you will.

Although packed with stars, the Sombrero Galaxy isn’t exactly bursting with new ones. Star formation is low, and even the enormous central black hole (we’re talking 9 billion solar masses!) is relatively chill.

And get this — its shape still puzzles astronomers. Spiral or elliptical? It’s got a bit of both. Some think a galactic merger billions of years ago gave it this one-of-a-kind look. Thanks to Hubble’s observations, we’re piecing together its mysterious past.

📸 europeanspaceagency / hubbleesa & NASA, K. Noll; creativecommons BY 4.0
📹 ESA/Hubble & NASA, K. Noll, N. Bartmann (ESA/Hubble

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 16,485
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 68

## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ESA - European Space Agency | @europeanspaceagency | https://gondola.cc/europeanspaceagency | Government Organization |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Producer |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Editor |
| Hubble Space Telescope | @hubbleesa | https://gondola.cc/hubbleesa | Photographer |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Social Media Manager |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Publisher |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Copywriter |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Community Manager |

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