NGC 4656 and NGC 4657
Encyclopedia
NGC 4656 and NGC 4657 are a pair of interacting galaxies located in the constellation
Canes Venatici
. The pair is sometimes informally called the Hockey Stick Galaxies or the Crowbar Galaxy. Both galaxies are members of the NGC 4631 Group
.
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
Canes Venatici
Canes Venatici
Canes Venatici is one of the 88 official modern constellations. It is a small northern constellation that was created by Johannes Hevelius in the 17th century. Its name is Latin for "hunting dogs", and the constellation is often depicted in illustrations as representing the dogs of Boötes the...
. The pair is sometimes informally called the Hockey Stick Galaxies or the Crowbar Galaxy. Both galaxies are members of the NGC 4631 Group
NGC 4631 Group
The NGC 4631 Group is a poorly-defined group of galaxies, about 25 million light years from Earth in the Coma Berenices and Canes Venatici constellations.-Members:*spiral galaxy NGC 4631 , brightest galaxy in the group...
.