Object Analysis

The Whale Galaxy (NGC 4631) is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. This galaxy's slightly distorted wedge shape gives it the appearance of a herring or a whale, hence its nickname. It is seen edge-on from Earth.

It is interacting with a small elliptical companion, NGC 4627, located just above the "whale." This interaction has triggered intense star formation in the Whale Galaxy, evident from the bright star clusters and patchy dust lanes along its length.

Located about 30 million light-years away, NGC 4631 has a massive halo of hot gas emitting X-rays, likely blown out of the galactic plane by the collective power of thousands of supernovae (a "superwind").