Barred spiral galaxy · Canes Venatici

NGC 4631 Whale Galaxy

Also known as: C32

mag 9.214′ across

About

NGC 4631, the Whale Galaxy, is a barred spiral galaxy of magnitude 9.2 in Canes Venatici, about 14′ across.

NGC 4631 is in the constellation Canes Venatici.
Best evenings: around mid-May it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 47° S.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesNot visible to the naked eye.
Binoculars (10×50)A faint streak of light, only from a dark site.
Telescope (6–8 inch)A thin spindle of light, sometimes with a dark dust lane along it.

For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.

Designations	NGC 4631, C32, PGC 42637, UGC 7865
Type	Barred spiral galaxy (SBcd)
Magnitude	9.2The smaller the number, the brighter.
Apparent size	14′ × 2.2′position angle 86°; the full Moon is 31′ across
Surface brightness	22.4 mag/arcsec²Average over its disc, in the blue band: the lower the number, the easier it is to see.
Constellation	Canes Venatici
Right ascension (J2000)	12h 42m 08.0s
Declination (J2000)	+32° 32′ 29″