NGC 4656

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NGC 4656, also known as the Hockey Stick Galaxy or the Crowbar Galaxy, is a highly warped edge-on barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici.

Here are some key facts about NGC 4656:

• Shape and Structure: Its unusual, warped shape is thought to be caused by gravitational interactions with neighboring galaxies, NGC 4631 (the Whale Galaxy) and NGC 4627. NGC 4656 has a bend at the end of its eastern arm.
• Distance: It is located approximately 30 million light-years away from Earth. Other sources state distances that vary from 18 to 30 million light-years.
• Size: Based on a distance of 34 million light years, its diameter is about 195,000 light-years. Other sources state the size is around 78,500 light years.
• Designation: It is sometimes referred to as NGC 4656/57 because the object may actually be composed of two interacting galaxies. NGC 4657 is the "handle" of the Hockey Stick, while NGC 4656 is the "stick".
• Other Features:
• A luminous blue variable (LBV) in "super-outburst" was discovered in NGC 4656/57 on March 21, 2005.
• NGC 4656 contains regions of ionized hydrogen.
• It has several infrared and X-ray sources, along with a number of point radio sources.