Arp 299

ARP 299 2017 Jan 17

Object:  ARP 299  (NGC 3690 & IC 694) Date:         2017 January 17
Peculiarity:    Double galaxy.
Constellation:           Ursa Major Time & altitude:   23.00 UT         51º
Catalogue data: Seeing (5 high):                               3/5
            R.A:                11h 29m Transparency (5 high):                 3/5
            Dec:                +58º 34 Telescope:     0.5m f4.1 Dob.
            Magnitudes:  12.0 and 12.1 Eyepiece:      8mm Ethos      x260
Galaxy sizes (mins): 1.5 x 1.0 & 1.1 x 0.9 Filters:            None

Notes:

Details and faint stars washed out as the 20-day-old gibbous Moon rose at about 22.40 and climbed above the E horizon. Arp 299 is a conspicuous object, set on one side of a quadrilateral of bright stars. NGC 3690 is W and IC 694 is E. To me they look like a single galaxy split by a dark lane aligned NS or NE-SW. The W component is noticeably the brighter of the two. It has a semi-circular outline with well-defined edges and a bright core. The E component is triangular in outline with poorly defined edges and no core. Its illumination is mottled and there are two(?)  bright lanes running more or less EW.

There is a naming irregularity about the identity of IC 694.

Arp 296 is 2 min NE of Arp 299 but was not seen; it is only 15.7m and so will need better conditions.