Comet look-a-likes in UMA, UGC 5938/42

[Mike JW]

A mate pointed these guys out. They are about 4 million lyrs apart and in the region of 520 million lyrs away. They do look a bit like a pair of comets. UGC 5938 is mag 16.5 and classed as peculiar? 5942 is mag 17.5 and also classed as peculiar or irrgeular?

This shot was done last night under a blazing moon!!!!

Mike

[Martin Meredith]

Wonderful objects! Next time I carry the scope to the back of the house I will try to observe them.

I looked them up and they are apparently both members of the Flat Galaxy Catalogue (FGC 133A and 134A) and close enough to be (potentially) interacting. The only clear reference to them that I can find is in this paper:

 

 

[Mike JW]

Thanks Martin. I had not thought to check them out against the Flat Galaxy list because I have limited myself to mag 15.5 and brighter, so now I shall have to start an addendum!!!!!! These technical articles you find add a new dimension as well. I tend to speed read them and pick up the key points. I had thought they might be interacting because better images seem to give a hint of extensions to the pair. Mike