NGC 4631 Group | |
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Observation data (Epoch J2000) | |
Constellation(s) | Canes Venatici & Coma Berenices |
Right ascension | 12h 09m[1][2] |
Declination | +30° 02′[1][2] |
Number of galaxies | 5-27[3][4][1][2] |
Brightest member | NGC 4631[4][2] |
Other designations | |
LGG 291[1], NOGG H611[2], NOGG P1 631[2], NOGG P2 642[2] |
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See also: Galaxy groups and clusters, List of galaxy clusters | |
The NGC 4631 Group is a poorly-defined group of galaxies, about 25 million light years from Earth in the Coma Berenices and Canes Venatici constellations.
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Aside from these four galaxies, however, the determination of group membership is quite variable. The group lies in a relatively crowded part of the sky near the Virgo Cluster, so exact determination of the group membership is extremely difficult. Some studies have estimated that the NGC 4631 Group contains as few as 5 galaxies[3], while others place the estimate as high as 27[2]. Additionally, it is unclear as to whether the galaxies near NGC 4631 and NGC 4656/NGC4657 form one large group or two smaller groups[1].
Virgo Cluster - a large cluster of galaxies that is near the NGC 4631 group