Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn)  ·  Contains:  NGC 4485  ·  NGC 4490
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NGC 4490 Cocoon Galaxy and NGC 4485 Galaxy, rdhand
NGC 4490 Cocoon Galaxy and NGC 4485 Galaxy
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NGC 4490 Cocoon Galaxy and NGC 4485 Galaxy

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
NGC 4490 Cocoon Galaxy and NGC 4485 Galaxy, rdhand
NGC 4490 Cocoon Galaxy and NGC 4485 Galaxy
Powered byPixInsight

NGC 4490 Cocoon Galaxy and NGC 4485 Galaxy

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Description

NGC 4490, also known as the Cocoon Galaxy, is  25 million light-years from Earth. It interacts with its smaller companion NGG 4385 and the interaction has triggered bursts of star formation in both galaxies. These two spiral galaxies are being pulled towards each other by gravity, distorting their shapes. They have already had their closest approach and are speeding away from each other, separated by 24,000 light-years. The Cocoon Galaxy is much smaller than the Milky Way Galaxy at 3700 light-years across.

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NGC 4490 Cocoon Galaxy and NGC 4485 Galaxy, rdhand

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Galaxy