| Object: ARP 242 (NGC 4676A & B) | Date: 2016 April 10 |
| Peculiarity: Appearance of fission. | |
| Constellation: Coma Berenices | Time & altitude: 00.40 UT 65º |
| Catalogue data: | Seeing (5 high): 2/5 |
| R.A: 12h 46m | Transparency (5 high): 4/5 |
| Dec: +30º 44 | Telescope: 0.5m f4.1 Dob. |
| Magnitudes: 14.7 & 14.4 | Eyepiece: 8mm Ethos x260 |
| Galaxy sizes (mins): 2.3 x 0.7, 2.2 x 0.8 | Filters: None |
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Notes: In this third hour of tonight’s session dewing of the eyepiece eye lens has become a nuisance even though I am using anti-dew heaters. Arp 242 is nicknamed “The Mice”. The pair was seen on-and-off with DV. They are not in contact. 4676A seemed slightly more visible despite having the fainter catalogue magnitude. Using AV I see a straight, thin tail running N from 4676A less than 25% of the time. It is roughly the same length as the galaxy. I suspected a tail running S from 4676B but with no confidence and have not put it on the sketch. |
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