Arp 293 consists of the interacting galaxy pair NGC 6285 and 6286. NGC 6285 is the smaller galaxy, classified as a SOa, a lenticular spiral, of magnitude 15. NGC 6286 is the larger edge-on galaxy, classified Sb and magnitude 14. Originally considered to be a polar-ring galaxy in the process of formation, work by Shalyapina et al, has found that there is no evidence of gas rotation around the major axis of NGC 6286, which argues against the assumption that this galaxy is forming a polar ring. However, observations of emission nebulae around NGC 6286 suggest a structure characteristic of 'superwind' galaxies and probably indicates that it is still reacting to the effects of a close encounter with nearby NGC 6285. Note the extensive dust band bisecting NGC 6286, which again suggests a violent past afflicting these two galaxies. Although 6285 appears virtually unscathed there is a large tidal plume emanating from 6285, which can just be resolved in my image. The little 'skinny' galaxy also in the field is UGC 10641, a rather faint 16.5 mag.

Halton Arp was mainly interested in the interacting nature of this pair and has not made any reference to the presense or otherwise of close quasars. Indeed, at first glance there does not appear to be any quasar activity anywhere near to the interacting pair. There is not a single quasar shown on my image, an area in space of about 25' x 20', which is itself quite an unusual event. Investigating the databases, however, paints a rather different picture. I found that by extending the search area to about 60' x 60' I was able to locate at least 7 possible quasars - and they are all on a radius of about 18' - 20' from the interacting pair. Is this just coincidence? Why are some areas of space apparently devoid of quasars? And why do some galaxies appear to be surrounded by a swarm of quasars?

My image, acquired a while ago when it was nice and warm, consists of 50 x 120sec exposures through the 10".

I include my image and also an image showing the distribution of quasars around the pair, as plotted from the SIMBAD database.