NGC 4631 (also known as the Whale Galaxy) is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. This galaxy’s slightly distorted wedge shape gives it the appearance of a herring or a whale, hence its nickname. Because this nearby galaxy is seen edge-on from Earth, professional astronomers observe this galaxy to better understand the gas and stars located outside the plane of the galaxy.
NGC 4656/57 is a highly warped barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici and is sometimes informally called the Hockey Stick Galaxies or the Crowbar Galaxy. Its unusual shape is thought to be due to an interaction between NGC 4656, NGC 4631, and NGC 4627. The galaxy is a member of the NGC 4631 Group. A Luminous Blue Variable in “super-outburst” was discovered in NGC 4656/57 on March 21, 2005.
All galaxies lies at a distance of about 30 million light years.
NGC 4631 and NGC 4656
NGC 4631 (also known as the Whale Galaxy or Caldwell 32) is an edge-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. This galaxy’s slightly distorted wedge shape gives it the appearance of a herring or a whale. Approx. distance is 25 million lightyears.
NGC 4631 contains a central starburst, which is a region of intense star formation. The strong star formation is evident in the emission from ionized hydrogen and interstellar dust heated by the stars formed in the starburst. So many supernovae have exploded in the center of NGC 4631 that they are blowing gas out of the plane of the galaxy. This superwind can be seen in X-rays and in spectral line emission.
NGC 4631 has a nearby companion dwarf elliptical galaxy, NGC 4627.
NGC 4656 is a 9th magnitude galaxy at approx. 18 million lighty years distance, Two smaller galaxies are colliding with the upper left part of NGC 4656.
Photographed with CPC925 reflector telescope and Nikon D800 DSLR camera in Åva, March 2016. Exposure was 12* 90-150s at ISO800, autoguiding with PHD2.
NGC 4631 and NGC 4656
NGC 4631 (also known as the Whale Galaxy) is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. This galaxy’s slightly distorted wedge shape gives it the appearance of a herring or a whale, hence its nickname. Because this nearby galaxy is seen edge-on from Earth, professional astronomers observe this galaxy to better understand the gas and stars located outside the plane of the galaxy.
NGC 4656/57 is a highly warped barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici and is sometimes informally called the Hockey Stick Galaxies or the Crowbar Galaxy. Its unusual shape is thought to be due to an interaction between NGC 4656, NGC 4631, and NGC 4627. The galaxy is a member of the NGC 4631 Group. A Luminous Blue Variable in “super-outburst” was discovered in NGC 4656/57 on March 21, 2005.
Photographed with MN190 reflector telescope and ASI 2600MC color camera in Stuvsta, March 2022. Exposure was 30*3 min with IDAS LPS P3 light pollution filter.
NGC 4631 and NGC 4656
NGC 4631 (also known as the Whale Galaxy) is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. This galaxy’s slightly distorted wedge shape gives it the appearance of a herring or a whale, hence its nickname. Because this nearby galaxy is seen edge-on from Earth, professional astronomers observe this galaxy to better understand the gas and stars located outside the plane of the galaxy.
NGC 4656/57 is a highly warped barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici and is sometimes informally called the Hockey Stick Galaxies or the Crowbar Galaxy. Its unusual shape is thought to be due to an interaction between NGC 4656, NGC 4631, and NGC 4627. The galaxy is a member of the NGC 4631 Group. A Luminous Blue Variable in “super-outburst” was discovered in NGC 4656/57 on March 21, 2005.
Photographed with MN190 reflector telescope and ASI 2600MC color camera in Stuvsta, March 2022. Exposure was 30*3 min with IDAS LPS P3 light pollution filter.
NGC 4631, Whale Galaxy
Photographed with the RC8″ reflector telescope and the ASI 2600MC color CMOS camera in Stuvsta, March 28th, 2025. Exposure was 23*3 min with IDAS LPS D2 filter. Post-processing in Pixinsight. No moon visible. Some high clouds passed by.
NGC 4631, Whale Galaxy
Photographed with the RC8″ reflector telescope and the ASI 2600MC color CMOS camera in Stuvsta, March 28th, 2025. Exposure was 23*3 min with IDAS LPS D2 filter. Post-processing in Pixinsight. No moon visible. Some high clouds passed by.
NGC 4656
Photographed with the RC8″ reflector telescope and the ASI 2600MC color CMOS camera in Stuvsta, March 26th, 27th, and 28th, 2025. Exposure was 30*3 min with IDAS LPS D2 filter. Post-processing in Pixinsight. No moon visible. Some high clouds passed by on the 28th.
NGC 4656
Photographed with the RC8″ reflector telescope and the ASI 2600MC color CMOS camera in Stuvsta, March 26th, 27th, and 28th, 2025. Exposure was 30*3 min with IDAS LPS D2 filter. Post-processing in Pixinsight. No moon visible. Some high clouds passed by on the 28th.