NGC 4631, often called the Whale Galaxy due to its elongated, fish-like profile, is a stunning edge-on spiral galaxy located about 25 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. Spanning roughly 140,000 light-years, it's slightly larger than our Milky Way and teems with star-forming regions that radiate brightly in ultraviolet and hydrogen emissions. Its thick, warped disk and bright central bulge create the illusion of a breaching whale gliding through the cosmos.

This galaxy is also notable for its strong halo of hot gas visible in X-ray and radio wavelengths—a signature of vigorous star formation and stellar winds pushing material far above the galactic plane. NGC 4631 is gravitationally interacting with its nearby companion, NGC 4627, a dwarf elliptical galaxy, which may be partially responsible for its distorted shape and turbulent starburst activity. Together, they form an intriguing and photogenic duo in the deep sky.