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Observation by Alan Thomas: NGC4631 Whale Galaxy in Canes Venatici

Uploaded by

Alan Thomas

Observer

Alan Thomas

Observed

2023 Apr 13 - 22:06

Uploaded

2023 Apr 17 - 14:52

Objects

The Whale Galaxy (NGC4631)
NGC4627

Planetarium overlay









Constellation

Canes Venatici

Field centre

RA: 12h42m
Dec: +32°32'
Position angle: -33°33'

Field size

0°36' × 0°27'

Equipment
  • Unistellar eQuinox 112mm reflector
Exposure

30min.

Location

Norbreck Observatory, Warrington, Cheshire, UK.

Target name

NGC4631 Whale Galaxy in Canes Venatici

Title

NGC4631 Whale Galaxy in Canes Venatici

About this image

The Whale Galaxy (NGC4631), so called because of its humped shape, is an edge-on spiral galaxy.

Its companion, NGC4627 (above), is an elliptical galaxy. Both were discovered on 1787 March 20 by William Herschel.

The galaxies are about 25million ly away, the Whale being about 120,000ly in diameter and its companion about 25,000ly. Apparent mags are 9.2 and  12.4.

The image shows NGC4631 as having an asymmetric disk, with a nucleus largely obscured by dust, and patches of bright star-forming regions in the arms. The elliptical companion shows little detail, but a brighter central region can be seen embedded in a fainter shell.

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