1.7 APOD

This photo contains an image of NGC 4631, or the "whale galaxy." NGC 4631 is the edge-on spiral galaxy in the top right hand corner of the photo. It is about the same size as our Milky Way. The blurry dot directly above the galaxy is called NGC 4627. The "whale galaxy" is about 30,000 kly away. It is also known as the "herring galaxy" because of it's shape. NGC 4631 has a close relationship with the other major galaxy apparent in the photo, called NGC 4656. Also known as the "hockey stick galaxy," NGC 4656 is connected to NGC 4631 by a thin branch of hydrogen gas. The "hockey stick galaxy is about 25 million ly away from Earth. Evidence shows that all three galaxies have interacted in the past.