Arp 247

ARP 247 2018 Feb 11

Object:    Arp 247 (IC 2338 and 2339) Date:               2018 Feb 11
Peculiarity:  Appearance of fission.
Constellation:           Cancer Time & altitude:        22.30 UT       60º
Catalogue data: Seeing (5 high):                               4/5
            R.A:                8h 24m Transparency (5 high):                   4/5
            Dec:                21º 21 Telescope:     0.5m f4.1  Dob.
            Magnitudes:  both 15.4 Eyepiece:      8mm Ethos                x260
Galaxy sizes (mins):  0.6×0.5, 1.1×0.6 Filters:            None

Notes:

Snow on the ground and a frost. Arp 247 is difficult, seen as one object most of the time or as two occasionally. IC2339 is oval, IC2338 round. However later checking indicates the position angle of IC 2339 seems wrong when compared to images. Perhaps what I have recorded is a pair of unresolved stars at the limit of visibility.

IC 2341 (14.6m per Megastar) is nearby to the N. This is an easy object, seen with DV as an oval patch, slightly elongated NS.