---
title: "NGC 4656"
url: "https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-4656"
release: "DR1"
licence: "CC-BY-SA-4.0"
citation: "SpaceCatalog. NGC 4656 [catalogue entry]. Data release DR1 (2026-08-21). https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-4656"
---

# NGC 4656

NGC 4656 is a barred spiral [galaxy](https://spacecatalog.org/galaxies) SB in the constellation [Canes Venatici](https://spacecatalog.org/constellation/canes-venatici). Other catalogues list it as IRAS 12415+3226, IRAS F12415+3227 and LEDA 42863, among 7 designations in total. It was discovered in 1787.

## At a glance

- **WHAT IT IS:** Barred spiral galaxy
- **HOW BIG ON THE SKY:** 8.0′ — About 0.3 of the full Moon's width.
- **WHERE TO LOOK:** [Canes Venatici](https://spacecatalog.org/constellation/canes-venatici) — The patch of sky it sits in, as seen from Earth.

## Properties

| Quantity | Value |
| --- | --- |
| CLASS | Barred spiral galaxy SB |
| CONSTELLATION | Canes Venatici |
| RIGHT ASCENSION (J2000) | 12h 43m 57.7s |
| DECLINATION (J2000) | +32° 10′ 05.3″ |
| DISCOVERED | 1787 |

## Catalogue data

### WHAT KIND OF THING IT IS

What the object is in itself, rather than how it happens to look from here.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Hubble type | SB |

### WHERE IT IS AND HOW IT MOVES

Position, motion across the sky and the size it covers on it. These are measurements of the object as seen from here, so every one of them depends on where here is.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Major axis | 8′ |
| Minor axis | 2.09441′ |
| Position angle | 35° |

### WHEN IT WAS FOUND

Who first saw it, from where, and by what method.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Discovered by | William Herschel |

### OTHER NAMES AND NUMBERS

The identifiers other catalogues file this object under, for anyone joining this data to theirs.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| OpenNGC type code | GPair |
| Wikidata item | Q3869510 |

### WHERE THESE FIGURES CAME FROM

Which catalogue, paper or model each of the fields above was read from, where the source named one.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Morphology from | SIMBAD (2019MNRAS.488..590B, quality C) |

## Also known as

- IRAS: IRAS 12415+3226
- IRAS: IRAS F12415+3227
- LEDA: LEDA 42863
- MCG: MCG +05-30-066
- NGC: NGC 4656
- PGC: PGC 42863
- UGC: UGC 7907

## Source

[OpenNGC](https://github.com/mattiaverga/OpenNGC) — CC-BY-SA-4.0

The producer asks: OpenNGC, Mattia Verga (github.com/mattiaverga/OpenNGC). Fields derived from it stay under CC BY-SA 4.0.

How this was made: https://spacecatalog.org/methods#source-openngc

## Cite this page

SpaceCatalog. NGC 4656 \[catalogue entry\]. Data release DR1 (2026-08-21). https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-4656

```bibtex
@misc{spacecatalog_ngc-4656,
  author       = {{SpaceCatalog}},
  title        = {{NGC 4656}},
  howpublished = {SpaceCatalog, data release DR1 (2026-08-21)},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-4656},
  note         = {Catalogue entry, data release DR1 (2026-08-21). Values from OpenNGC.}
}
```

OpenNGC — CC-BY-SA-4.0

Acknowledgement the producer asks for: OpenNGC, Mattia Verga (github.com/mattiaverga/OpenNGC). Fields derived from it stay under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The page itself, with its pictures, the sky map and the observing tools: https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-4656