Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn)  ·  Contains:  NGC 4485  ·  NGC 4490
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NGC 4490 - The Cocoon Galaxy, James E.
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NGC 4490 - The Cocoon Galaxy

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NGC 4490 - The Cocoon Galaxy, James E.
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NGC 4490 - The Cocoon Galaxy

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Description

One of several spring galaxy targets that were initiated during somewhat poor weather and bright moon, but were targets with HII regions allowing Ha imaging.

NGC 4490 (the Cocoon Galaxy) and NGC 4485 (collectively also known as Arp 269) are fairly bright interacting galaxies about 40-50 million light years distant in Canes Venatici. They have already had their closest approach and are speeding away from each other - now separated by some 24,000 light-years.  Both galaxies are thought to have originally been spirals that have been heavily distorted by the tidal forces of the interaction. The interaction has triggered bursts of star formation in both galaxies - clusters of hot blue stars emit intense UV light that result in the glow of numerous HII nebulae. 

Imaged over several nights:  Mar 15, 16, 25 and 27, 2022.

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