Arp 310

Arp 311 2017 Aug 15

Object:      Arp 310 ( IC 1259, VV 101) Date:               2017 Aug 15
Peculiarity:   Double galaxies.
Constellation:           Draco Time & altitude:        22.10 UT      68º
Catalogue data: Seeing (5 high):                                   4/5
            R.A:                17h 27m Transparency (5 high):                   4/5
            Dec:                +58º 31 Telescope:     0.5m f4.1  Dob.
            Magnitude:    15.0 Eyepiece:      8mm Ethos      x260
            Galaxy sizes (mins):  0.8 x 0.4 & 0.3 x 0.3 Filters:            None

Notes:

Arp 310 is contained within Arp 311. The sketch is of both. Arp 310 is IC 1259, also known as VV 101a and VV 101b.  Both components were seen and held with DV, and were seen as separate. 101a is oval, 101b more or less round. They seem to be embedded in a ragged, irregular haze which reminded me of the Crab Nebula. The details of the irregularity were too subdued to be sketched accurately and what appears below is an impression only. I suppose the effect could be due to unresolved stars. See page 139 for Arp 311.

VV101 appeared of similar brightness to IC 1258 although the latter is catalogued as being 0.7m brighter. VV101 also appeared larger than IC 1258, contrary to the catalogue dimensions.