NGC 4656 and NGC 4657
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Observation data: J2000 epoch | |
---|---|
Constellation: | Canes Venatici |
Right ascension: | 12h 43m 58.3s |
Declination: | +32° 10′ 13″ |
Redshift: | |
Distance: | 30 Mly |
Type: | SBm/IAm |
Apparent dimensions (V): | 15′.3 × 2′.4 |
Apparent magnitude (V): | +101 |
Notable features: | colliding galaxies |
Other designations | |
NGC 4656/7 | |
See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies |
NGC 4656 and NGC 4657 are a set of colliding galaxies, a barred spiral galaxy and an irregular galaxy, about 30 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. Discovered by Wiliam Herschel in 1787, that has been significantly distorted through interaction with its large neighbor the NGC 4631. The pair is sometimes called the Hockey Stick Galaxies. The bright northeastern edge of the galaxy appears offset, forming the stick's blade. Both galaxies are members of the NGC 4631 Group.