Messier 104, also known as the Sombrero Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Virgo. It is approximately 28 million light-years away from Earth and is notable for its bright nucleus and prominent dust lane, which gives it a distinctive sombrero-like appearance. The galaxy is classified as M104 in the Messier catalog, a collection of astronomical objects compiled by the French astronomer Charles Messier in the 18th century. With a diameter of about 50,000 light-years, Messier 104 is home to a large number of stars and is one of the brightest galaxies visible from Earth. It contains a supermassive black hole at its center, which is surrounded by a dense cluster of stars. The galaxy is a popular target for amateur astronomers and is often studied for its unique structure and characteristics.