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Date: Feb. 23, 2026 - Location: Dark Sky Observatory, Fort Davis, TX Telescope: 16 inch RC - Camera: FLI 16803 Exposure: Lum - Red - Green - Blue filters = 15 x 300s each Click on the image below to view at higher resolution. |
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NGC 4656 is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici approximately 30 million light-years from Earth[1]. This remarkable galaxy has been highly warped by gravitational interaction with nearby galaxies in its group, most notably the NGC 4634 as well as the companion NGC 4627[1,2]. This grouping of galaxies is designated the NGC 4631 Group[1]. These tidal interactions have distorted the disk of NGC 4656, producing a pronounced curvature at the northeastern end of the galaxy. This feature forms a bright hook-like extension that gives the galaxy its common name, the "Hockey Stick Galaxy"[1,3]. This prominate "hook" has it's own designation of NGC 4657. Visible just to the northeast of NGC 4656 is a faint diffuse object identified as NGC 4656UV[5]. This object was initially classified as a candidate tidal dwarf galaxy (TDG) formed from material pulled out during the interaction between nearby galaxies[4]. However, more recent studies suggest that NGC 4656UV is not of tidal origin[4]. Instead, it is now considered a separate dwarf galaxy currently merging with NGC 4656[4]. NGC 4656UV is undergoing a significant burst of star formation, likely triggered by its interaction with NGC 4656[4]. This episode of stellar birth is particularly luminous in the ultraviolet spectrum, making the object an important example of star formation occurring in a low-density galactic environment[5].
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