NGC 4631, also aptly nicknamed the Whale Galaxy due to its shape, is a barred spiral galaxy offering a wealth of astronomical intrigue. Here's a comprehensive summary of what we know: Distance & Age: Distance: Approximately 25-30 million light-years away from Earth. Age: Estimated to be roughly 13.27 billion years old. Size & Mass: Size: Precise measurement is difficult due to a galaxy's irregular form. However, NGC 4631 is similar in size to our Milky Way. Mass: Estimated to be comparable to the Milky Way, which is hundreds of billions of times the mass of our Sun. Star Formation: NGC 4631 is renowned for its vigorous star formation, particularly in its central region. This intense activity is called a "starburst" and is evident in the bright core and the gas blown out of the galaxy plane by supernovae explosions. Collisions and Neighbors: Collisions: As part of the NGC 4631 Group, future mergers or interactions with neighboring galaxies are likely. Galaxy co...
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