Spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici
NGC 4656 has a bend at the end of its eastern arm, so it has been called the Hockey Stick Galaxy. This galaxy is part of a group that includes NGC 4631 (the Whale Galaxy). Its distorted shape is undoubtedly due to gravitational interactions with one or more of the other galaxies in the group.
| Magnitude | 10.1 |
| Apparent Size | 12.9' x 2.5' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 25 million |
| Right Ascension | 12:44.0 |
| Declination | +32 10 |
| Field of view | 29' x 22' |
Image details: Exposure times of 45 minutes luminance and 21 minutes each of red, green, and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/6.
April 2019