NGC 4631 (also known as the Whale Galaxy) is
an edge-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici.
This galaxy's slightly distorted wedge shape gives it the
appearance of a herring or a whale, whence its nickname. NGC
4631 has a nearby companion dwarf elliptical galaxy, NGC 4627.
NGC 4631 and NGC 4627 are part of the NGC 4631 Group, a group of
galaxies that also includes the interacting galaxies
NGC 4656
and NGC 4657.
