Mice Galaxies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**NGC 4676A / 4676B**
Observation data: J2000 epoch
The Mice Galaxies, NGC 4676A (right) / NGC 4676B (left)
Constellation:	Coma Berenices
Right ascension:	12^h 46^m 10.1^s / 12^h 46^m 11.2^s^[1]
Declination:	+30° 43′ 55″ / +30° 43′ 22″^[1]
Redshift:	6613 ± 8 / 6607 ± 7 km/s^[1]
Distance:	300 Mly^{[citation needed]}
Type:	Irr / SB(s)0/a pec^[1]
Apparent dimensions (V):	2′.3 × 0′.7 / 2′.2 × 0′.8^[1]
Apparent magnitude (V):	14.7 / 14.4^[1]
Notable features:	Interacting galaxies
Other designations
Mice Galaxies,^[1] IC 819 / 820,^[1] UGC 7938 / 7939,^[1] PGC 43062 / 43065,^[1] Arp 242^[1]
See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies

NGC 4676 (the Mice Galaxies) are two spiral galaxies in the constellation Coma Berenices. They are about 300 million ly away. They are in the process of colliding and merging. Their name refers to the long tails produced by tidal action — the relative difference between gravitational pulls on the near and far parts of each galaxy — known here as a galactic tide. They are members of the Coma cluster. It is a possibility that both galaxies have experienced collision, and will continue in the future until they coalesce. The colors of the galaxy are peculiar. In the upper galaxy, a core with some dark markings is surrounded by a bluish white remnant of spiral arms. The tail is unusual, it starts out blue, and terminates in a more yellowish color, despite the fact that the beginning of each arm in every spiral galaxy starts yellow and terminates in a bluish color. The lower galaxy is closer to normal, with a yellowish core and two arcs - arm remnants underneath bluish in color as well.