NGC 4631: the Whale galaxy in Canes Ventici.

This faint, 10-mg spiral galaxy is interacting with its small elliptical companion.

Images taken: Apr. 14, 2009, by Frank Butz and Alyssa Yuen.

Telescope: Meade 12 in at f/5.6.

Camera: SBIG ST-10 CCD camera

Exposures: 3x 20 min red, green, and blue filters; 30 min H-alpha, a total of 1.5 hours exposure.

Image processing: CCDoops + CCDSoft + Photoshop CS.