NGC 4631 · galaxy

Whale Galaxy

NGC 4631 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici about 30 million light years away from Earth.

RA12h 42m 07sDec+32° 32' 30"

Image: KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/John Vickery and Jim Matthes/Adam Block. CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Identity & coordinates

Identification

Primary designation: NGC 4631
All designations: NGC 4631 · Whale Galaxy
Object type: Galaxy
Constellation: Canes Venatici
Best viewing: Spring

Coordinates & physical

Right ascension (J2000): 12h 42m 07s
Declination (J2000): +32° 32' 30"
Apparent magnitude (V): —
Distance: —
Redshift (z): 0.002035

III

Visibility tonight

The science

NGC 4631 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici about 30 million light years away from Earth. It was discovered on 20 March 1787 by German-British astronomer William Herschel. 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.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA-4.0