This edge-on spiral galaxy, also known as NGC 4631 and the Whale Galaxy, is located 24 million light years away in the constellation of Canes Venatici at a declination of +33 degrees. It is a magnitude 9 starburst galaxy and is the 39th brightest galaxy in the sky. It spans 17 arc-minutes in our apparent view. This corresponds to a Milky Way size diameter of 120,000 light years.
The small galaxy above is NGC 4627, a likely elliptical companion. The distance data is not definitive that they are at the same distance, but they clearly seem to be interacting. The larger galaxy is asymmetric, with the core shifted left and the disk having an overall wedge shape. These deformations are likely due to the impact of the companion, although the smaller galaxy does not appear to be much disturbed.
This is the 281st entry in Dr. Arp's
Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies. Dr. Arp placed this object as the first of 6 entries under his category of Infall and Attraction, in the Double Galaxies section.
The colors and dust clouds of this galaxy are wonderful. Because this galaxy is close to us, the yellow core, blue star clusters and pink/purple HII regions are all clearly visible.
I have included comparisons of my image to the Arp and Hubble images of this object in revisions C and D, respectively.
Comments