Mice Galaxies
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| NGC 4676A / 4676B | |
 The Mice Galaxies, NGC 4676A (right)/NGC 4676B (left) |
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| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Coma Berenices |
| Right ascension | 12h 46m 10.1s / 12h 46m 11.2s[1] |
| Declination | +30° 43′ 55″ / +30° 43′ 22″[1] |
| Redshift | 6613 ± 8 / 6607 ± 7 km/s[1] |
| Distance | 290 Mly[2] |
| 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] |
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| See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies | |
NGC 4676, or the Mice Galaxies, are two spiral galaxies in the constellation Coma Berenices. About 290 million light-years away[2], they are presently 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. Members of the Coma cluster, it is a possibility that both galaxies have experienced collision, and will continue colliding 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, starting out blue and terminating in a more yellowish color, despite the fact that the beginning of each arm in virtually 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 are bluish as well.
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