—Cotton candy clouds shine in one of Hubble's most beautiful images ever The galaxy also appears to have a warped inner disk and contain about 2,000 globular clusters — balls of ancient stars — in its halo. Since these clusters are chemically different from their galactic companions, it's probable that the Sombrero has a chaotic past, having merged with several smaller galaxies in its history. Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. The new NIRCam data adds another layer of detail to a galaxy first documented 244 years ago. Originally observed in 1781 by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain, the Sombrero galaxy (also known as Messier 104 or M104) has long intrigued scientists due to its distinct, edge-on shape and luminous central bulge. Most galaxies' structures can be categorized as spiral, elliptical or irregular, but the Sombrero is classed as peculiar.