SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
Mark Germani
Location of Photo:
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date/Time of photo:
April-May 2025
Equipment:
Astro-Tech AT92 telescope, ZWO ASI585MC camera, Optolong L-Pro filter, iOptron CEM26 mount
Description:
NGC 4631 (commonly referred to as the whale galaxy) and NGC 4656/4657 (collectively referred to as either the hockey stick or crowbar galaxy) are gravitationally-interacting galaxies in Canes Venatici. NGC 4656 and NGC 4657 are two distinct but conjoined galaxies. They are estimated to be about 30 million light years distant. For reference, NGC 4631 is roughly the size of the Milky Way.
