Object Analysis

The Hockey Stick Galaxy (NGC 4656) is a highly distorted barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici. Its unusual shape, resembling a hockey stick, is due to a tidal interaction with its neighbor, the Whale Galaxy (NGC 4631).

The "blade" of the hockey stick is actually a tidal tail of stars and gas that has been pulled out of the main galaxy by gravity. This region is undergoing a starburst, creating many massive, bright blue stars.

It is located about 30 million light-years away. Together with the Whale Galaxy and NGC 4627, it forms the NGC 4631 Group. The interaction between these galaxies provides astronomers with a valuable laboratory for studying how gravity shapes galactic evolution.