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M104 is a nearly edge-on spiral galaxy with an unusually large central bulge.
It is an outlying member of the Virgo Cluster.
This galaxy is known as the Sombrero Galaxy due to its large circular glow and
the dark lane which bisects the galaxy into two unequal halves.
A small telescope can show the galaxy's bright bulge with pointed ends and the dark lane.
M104 was not in Messier's published catalog,
but was added in 1921 when it was noticed that
Messier's notes indicated that he knew of this object.
Objects M105-110 were subsequently added for the same reason.
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