NGC 4631 and NGC 4656, two interacting galaxies in the constellation Canes (Astro-TAPAS)

Celestial hemisphere: Northern · Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn) · Contains: NGC 4627 · NGC 4631 · NGC 4656 · NGC 4657 · Whale Galaxy

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NGC 4631 and NGC 4656, two interacting galaxies in the constellation Canes

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NGC 4631 and NGC 4656, two interacting galaxies in the constellation Canes

NGC 4631 and 4656 form a new pair of galaxies with original shapes, distorted by gravitational interactions. A couple, you say?
Well no, it's actually a quartet, as you'll find out.
Let's start with the Whale Galaxy, on the right, NGC 4631. It stretches for 140,000 light-years and is surrounded by a bubble of hot gas emitting X-rays. Like the large marine mammal, it appears to be covered in pustules, condensations of gas collapsing to give birth to new stars. The tiny nearby galaxy could be reminiscent of the geyser escaping through the whale's dorsal blowhole. It is the source of NGC 4631's tortured appearance, with the two tearing gas and matter away from each other.
Now let's move on to the distant galaxy on the left bottom in the field, NGC 4656 nicknamed the Hockey Stick. Do you see the dwarf galaxy interacting there as well? NGC 4657 forms the blade of the hockey stick, with NGC 4656 acting as the handle. It was William Herschel who discovered this strange celestial object in 1787. So this gives us two large galaxies interacting, each equally distorted by the presence of a small companion.

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The “AstroBin Image of the Day and Top Picks”, or IOTD/TP, is a long-running system to promote beautiful, interesting, peculiar, or otherwise amazing astrophotographs, with a focus on technical excellence. Learn more.

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NGC 4631 and NGC 4656, two interacting galaxies in the constellation Canes

NGC 4631 and NGC 4656, two interacting galaxies in the constellation Canes

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NGC 4631 and NGC 4656, two interacting galaxies in the constellation Canes

NGC 4631 and NGC 4656, two interacting galaxies in the constellation Canes

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