NGC 4565, the Needle Galaxy, is an edge-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices. Located approximately 30 to 50 million light years from Earth, it spans about 10 arcminutes in apparent size. The galaxy appears as a thin streak of light due to its nearly perfect edge-on orientation relative to our line of sight. The prominent dust lane bisecting the galaxy is clearly visible in long exposure images, along with the central bulge of older yellow stars. Some deep images also reveal a faint halo of globular clusters surrounding the core. A small companion galaxy, NGC 4565B, is sometimes visible nearby. NGC 4565 is well placed for imaging from late winter through spring in the northern hemisphere. Its relatively bright magnitude (9.6) and distinctive shape make it a popular target for amateur astrophotographers. The galaxy is a member of the Coma I Group.
