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> Spiral galaxy NGC 4631 in Canes Venatici

Spiral galaxy NGC 4631 in Canes Venatici

author: Nasa/ESA/Novapix

reference: a-gax46-31008

Image Size 300 DPI: 75 * 20 cm

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has peered deep into NGC 4631, better known as the Whale Galaxy. Here, a profusion of starbirth lights up the galactic centre, revealing bands of dark material between us and the starburst. The galaxy’s activity tapers off in its outer regions where there are fewer stars and less dust, but these are still punctuated by pockets of star formation. The Whale Galaxy is about 30 million light-years away from us in the constellation of Canes Venatici (The Hunting Dogs) and is a spiral galaxy much like the Milky Way. From our vantage point, however, we see the Whale Galaxy edge-on, seeing its glowing centre through dusty spiral arms.

Keywords for this photo:

2011 - ARP 281 - ASTRONOMY - CANES VENATICI - EDGE-ON - GALAXY - HST - HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - NGC 4631 - PANORAMA - Sc - SPIRAL GALAXY - STAR - STAR FORMATION -