Space Photography - The Sombrero Galaxy

[dryicerx]

The Hubble Heritage Team took these observations in May-June 2003 with the space telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys. Images were taken in three filters (red, green, and blue) to yield a natural-color image. The team took six pictures of the galaxy and then stitched them together to create the final composite image. One of the largest Hubble mosaics ever assembled, this magnificent galaxy has an apparent diameter that is nearly one-fifth the diameter of the full moon.

HubbleSite - NewsCenter - Heritage Project Celebrates Five Years of Harvesting the Best Images from Hubble Space Telescope (10/02/2003) - Release Images

Uber Resolution Versions

File:M104 ngc4594 sombrero galaxy hi-res.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (11,472 × 6,429 pixels, file size: 34.22 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg)

HubbleSite - NewsCenter - Heritage Project Celebrates Five Years of Harvesting the Best Images from Hubble Space Telescope (10/02/2003) - Release Images (has a same high res, but 224 MB Tiff)

Space is awesome.

[Crashoran]

We need more funding for space exploration. Truly amazing what the possibilities are.

[Tim-in-TX]

Anyone look at the Uber sized version of the photo? Did you happen to notice how many galaxies you can see in just that one image? WOW! That will make you feel really really really really really small and insignificant.

[Truckman]

Originally Posted by Tim-in-TX

That will make you feel really really really really really small and insignificant.

Thanks, I needed that......Ben

[dryicerx]

Originally Posted by Tim-in-TX

Anyone look at the Uber sized version of the photo? Did you happen to notice how many galaxies you can see in just that one image? WOW! That will make you feel really really really really really small and insignificant.

To make you feel even smaller.

This galaxy holds 800 Billion stars and is 50,000 light years across. Now every white spot you see in the background is also a galaxy with billions of stars within it like this one.

[Toad]

Originally Posted by Tim-in-TX

Anyone look at the Uber sized version of the photo? Did you happen to notice how many galaxies you can see in just that one image? WOW! That will make you feel really really really really really small and insignificant.

I have it as my background on my laptop...
There is also the pinwheel galaxy which is amazing. But the "ultra deep field" photo is the mind blowing picture. It is a picture of like... 10 THOUSAND galaxies... Just wow!

[ChuckW]

That is truly amazing how many galaxies, of every conceivable size and shape, are visible in the uber sized image!

As amazing as the Hubble has been in capturing images like this several ground based telescopes are planned or due to shortly come on line that will be able to out do the Hubble. They do this using adaptive optics that take account of atmospheric shifts and very large mirrors. One joint project between the USA and Canada will put a telescope with a 30 meter (meter not inch) mirror on Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Another in the planning stages is European Extremely Large Telescope that will have 42 meter mirror!

[Toad]

I've always wondered why they don't just build a bigger better telescope in space, instead of "dealing with" the atmosphere. That processing power could instead be used to see farther instead.

[Coelus]

They could just slap a P65 back on the Hubble and call it a day;)