Arp 120

ARP 120 2020 Apr 14

Object:   Arp 120 (NGC 4435 & NGC 4438) Date:               2020 April 14
Peculiarity:  Elliptical close to and perturbing spirals.
Constellation:           Virgo Time & altitude:        23.30 UT     51º
Catalogue data: Seeing (5 high):                               4/5
            R.A:                12h 28m Transparency (5 high):                   4/5
            Dec:                +13º 02 Telescope:     0.5m f4.1  Dob.
            Magnitudes   11.7 and 10.1 Eyepiece       8mm Ethos                x260
            Galaxy sizes (mins) 3×2 and 8×3 Filters:            None

Notes:

Named by Copeland “The Eyes”. Looks nothing like eyes to me, the galaxies are far too dissimilar.  4435 is the most conspicuous of the pair. It has a bright round core set in a small lemon-shaped halo with pointed ends, the long axis more or less NS.

4438 is a much larger object with lower surface brightness. It is still an easy spot. The main component is a 3:1 ellipse elongated NNE-SSW. In addition there is a tenuous extension to the halo to the NNW and then curving a little toward 4435. I could detect it over about half the distance to 4435. I was not able to find any similar extension to the SSW.