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On this page I collect my observations of the spiral galaxy NGC 4631 (Whale/Herring Galaxy) in the constellation Canes Venatici (with companion NGC 4627 and NGC 4656/57).
The spiral galaxy NGC 4631 (Whale/Herring Galaxy) in constellation Canes Venatici is seen edge-on. Above it, there is a close companion, the elliptical dwarf galaxy NGC 4627. Both form the galaxy pair Arp 281. A little further to the east is the barred spiral galaxy NGC 4656/57. More on this further below!
| NGC 4631 | NGC 4627 | NGC 4656/57 | ||
| Size: 17.0' x 3.5'/15.2' x 2.8' (SkySafari/Wikipedia) Distance: 28 millions light years (Wikipedia) Rating: --- |
Size: 1.7' x 1.0' (Wikipedia) Distance: 28 millions light years (assumption) Rating: --- |
Size: 15.3' × 2.4' (Wikipedia) Distance: 30 millions light years Rating: --- |
A little further to the east is the barred spiral galaxy NGC 4656/57. The appearance of the galaxy is reminiscent of the Small Magellanic Cloud. Due to its characteristic shape, the galaxy is sometimes jokingly referred to as the Hockey Stick. The galaxy was apparently in strong interaction with the neighboring Whale Galaxy NGC 4631 in the past, which may have resulted in a bright, somewhat detached knot at the northeastern end of the galaxy. This bright knot was cataloged as a separate object when the galaxy was discovered by Wilhelm Herschel on 20 March 1787, which later led to it also being listed under a separate entry as NGC 4657.
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| NGC 4656/7, Ausschnitt aus normalem Foto, bearbeitet und entrauscht | NGC 4656/7, Ausschnitt aus Mosaik, bearbeitet und entrauscht |
Fotos: Ausschnitte aus dem Gesamtfoto (siehe unten), die nur NGC 4656/7 zeigen.
The spiral galaxy NGC 4631 (Whale/Herring Galaxy) in constellation Canes Venatici (selected) (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)
The spiral galaxy NGC 4631 (Whale/Herring Galaxy) in constellation Canes Venatici (selected) (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)
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NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above - Apr 19, 2020, fuzzy |
NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above - Apr 19, 2020, fuzzy, processed |
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NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above - Apr 21, 2020 |
NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above - Apr 21, 2020, processed |
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NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above - May 21, 2020 |
NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above - May 21, 2020, processed |
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NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above - May 21, 2020 |
NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above - May 21, 2020, processed |
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NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above and NGC 4656/57 lower left, May 25, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s) |
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NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above and NGC 4656/57 lower left, May 25, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), processed (PSE) |
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NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above and NGC 4656/57 lower left, May 25, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), additionally denoised (DN) |
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Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net: NGC 4627, NGC 4656, NGC 4657 |
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NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above and NGC 4656/57 lower left, May 25, 2024 - 2000p (152 frames = 1520s), mosaic |
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NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above and NGC 4656/57 lower left, May 25, 2024 - 2000p (152 frames = 1520s), mosaic, processed (PSE) |
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NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above and NGC 4656/57 lower left, May 25, 2024 - 2000p (152 frames = 1520s), mosaic, additionally denoised (DN) |
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Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net: NGC 4627, NGC 4656, NGC 4657 |
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NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above and NGC 4656/57 lower left, May 25, 2024 - 1800p (180 frames = 1800s), section |
NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above and NGC 4656/57 lower left, May 25, 2024 - 1800p (180 frames = 1800s), section, processed |
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NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above and NGC 4656/57 lower left, May 25, 2024 - 1800p (180 frames = 1800s), mosaic, section |
NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above and NGC 4656/57 lower left, May 25, 2024 - 1800p (180 frames = 1800s), mosaic, section, processed |
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NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above and NGC 4656/57 lower left, May 25, 2024 - 1800p (180 frames = 1800s), mosaic, section, processed and denoised (PAI), whiter... |
NGC 4631 with NGC 4627 above and NGC 4656/57 lower left, May 25, 2024 - 1800p (180 frames = 1800s), mosaic, section, processed and denoised (PAI), whiter... |
