NGC 4631 (also known as the Whale Galaxy or Caldwell 32) is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Canis Venatici about 30 million light years away from Earth. This galaxy's slightly distorted wedge shape gives it the appearance of a herring or a whale, hence its nickname. As this nearby galaxy is seen edge-on from Earth professional astronomers observe this galaxy to better understand the gas and stars located outside the plane of the galaxy.