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

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NGC 4631 - NGC 4656, Armin Unterwandling
NGC 4631 - NGC 4656
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NGC 4631 - NGC 4656

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Description

NGC 4631(The Whale) and NGC 4656(The Hockey Stick) are fascinating pair of galaxies. Both galaxies fit in the same frame, and this creates an interesting compostion. These galaxies are found in the constellation Canes Venatici.
NGC 4631 is the larger and brighter of the two. Located about 30 Million light-years from Earth, this galaxy has a wedge-shaped from that resembles a whale, thus - its name.
In addition, NGC 4631 has a nearby dwarf elliptical galaxy, NGC 4627, as a companion. This is a rare example of a double galaxy and, as such, is listed in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies.
NGC 4656, The Hockey Stick - is a highly warped barred- spiral galaxy. Its distinctive shape is due to a "recent" gravitational interaction with NGC4631. The "hook" of the galaxy is also listed as its own object, NGC 4657. Beyond the hook is a fuzzy patch that may be a dwarf elliptical galaxy merging with NGC4656.

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NGC 4631 - NGC 4656, Armin Unterwandling