The Whale & Hockey Stick Galaxies
Clear skies during the night of 25 - 26th March meant I was able to turn my telescope to Canes Venatici and image for the first time, the Whale and Hockey Stick galaxies.
This lovely galaxy pair (actually 3 galaxies as the Whale is accompanied by a dwarf galaxy, NGC 4627) are high in the sky at this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Whale Galaxy (NGC 4631) is an edge on spiral galaxy. It appears slightly distorted due to gravitational interaction with its dwarf companion galaxy NGC 4627 (visible just above the whale). This distorted wedge shape gives the galaxy the appearance of a whale or herring - complete with "pectoral fin" projecting out from on end!
Both NGC 4631 & NGC 4627 are included in the Arp Catalogue of Peculiar Galaxies as Arp 281.
They lie at a distance of 25-30 million light years away.
The Hockey Stick Galaxy, NGC 4656/4657, also known as The Crowbar Galaxy, is a highly warped barred spiral system. The warped appearance, leading to its name, is believed to be due to the interactions between the Hockey Stick and Whale Galaxy and the latter's companion dwarf system.
The Hockey Stick galaxy lies at a distance of around 30 million light years.
Imaged with my Esprit 120ED with field flattener, the scope operating at F7. Images were captured using my ZWO 2600MC camera.
120 x 200s Total 6.6hrs
Camera cooled to -10°C Gain 100
Lights calibrated with temp. matched darks. Flats & Dark Flats.
Data analysed with APP and finished with Photoshop 2022.
As ever...Many thanks for Looking!!
The Whale & Hockey Stick Galaxies
Clear skies during the night of 25 - 26th March meant I was able to turn my telescope to Canes Venatici and image for the first time, the Whale and Hockey Stick galaxies.
This lovely galaxy pair (actually 3 galaxies as the Whale is accompanied by a dwarf galaxy, NGC 4627) are high in the sky at this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Whale Galaxy (NGC 4631) is an edge on spiral galaxy. It appears slightly distorted due to gravitational interaction with its dwarf companion galaxy NGC 4627 (visible just above the whale). This distorted wedge shape gives the galaxy the appearance of a whale or herring - complete with "pectoral fin" projecting out from on end!
Both NGC 4631 & NGC 4627 are included in the Arp Catalogue of Peculiar Galaxies as Arp 281.
They lie at a distance of 25-30 million light years away.
The Hockey Stick Galaxy, NGC 4656/4657, also known as The Crowbar Galaxy, is a highly warped barred spiral system. The warped appearance, leading to its name, is believed to be due to the interactions between the Hockey Stick and Whale Galaxy and the latter's companion dwarf system.
The Hockey Stick galaxy lies at a distance of around 30 million light years.
Imaged with my Esprit 120ED with field flattener, the scope operating at F7. Images were captured using my ZWO 2600MC camera.
120 x 200s Total 6.6hrs
Camera cooled to -10°C Gain 100
Lights calibrated with temp. matched darks. Flats & Dark Flats.
Data analysed with APP and finished with Photoshop 2022.
As ever...Many thanks for Looking!!