Hickson 90 in Pisces Austrinus

HICKSON	NAME	SIZE (M)	MAG (V)	SB
90a	NGC 7172	2.5X1.4	11.9	13.1
90b	NGC 7176	1.0X0.8	11.3	11.1
90c	NGC 7173	1.2X0.9	12.0	12.1
90d	NGC 7174	2.3X1.2	13.3	14.3

This is one the brightest Hickson groups and one of the few that can be explored with an 8" scope. NGC 7172 (Hickson 90A) is the brightest member and furthest north in the quartet. In a 13" it appeared as a fairly large, moderately bright oval extended E-W. Located 6' due south is NGC 7173 (Hickson 90C) which appeared as a small, round glow at 166x. Close southeast is a contact pair [26" separation between centers] - NGC 7174 (Hickson 90D) and NGC 7176 (Hickson 90B). In an 8" the combined glow was unresolved at 100x, but in my 13" the individual components were clearly resolved. The RNGC confuses the identifications of NGC 7173 and NGC 7174, making N7173/N7176 the contact pair. - Steve Gottlieb