Observation by David Strange: Interacting Galaxies in Canes Venatici

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Observer

David Strange

Observed

2020 Mar 15 - 23:20

Uploaded

2020 Mar 21 - 16:32

Objects

The Whale Galaxy (NGC4631)
The Crowbar Galaxy (NGC4656)

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Constellation

Canes Venatici

Field centre

RA: 12^h42^m
Dec: +32°19'
Position angle: +3°45'

Field size

1°12' × 0°59'

Equipment

C8 Hyperstar telescope
ASI 183MM Pro CCD camera

Exposure

30 x 30 seconds

Location

Salcombe Regis

Target name

NGC's 4631 and 4656

Title

Interacting Galaxies in Canes Venatici

About this image

By way of something totally different this month, here is a pair of galaxies, separated by 25 million light years yet tidally interacting with each other. The galaxies are known as the Whale and the Hockey Stick. The unusual shape of NGC 4656 is thought to be due to between it and a couple of near neighbours, NGC 4631 (otherwise known as The Whale Galaxy and shown in this image) and NGC 4627 (a small elliptical not shown). Galactic interactions can completely reshape a celestial object, shifting and warping its constituent gas, stars, and dust into bizarre and beautiful configurations.

Files associated with this observation

wk13_20_NGC4631_strange.jpg (31.7 kB)

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