Object of the Week, January 22nd 2024 — The Box

[Don Pensack]

I've seen this group many times in my 12.5". I don't really have anything in my notes that would add to the above.
I first saw it in 1994 with an 8".
Given the magnitudes and the transiting altitude in the US, it might be visible with 5-6".
Has anyone seen the group with less than 8"?

[Steve Gottlieb]

Like Don, I've observed the group many times (brightest Hickson?), so here's are a couple of observations of UGC 7190 = MCG +05-29-030, which is only 11' or so southwest of The Box. But, as opposed to NGC 4173, which lies in the foreground of the other 3 members, its recessional velocity is twice as large. Still, it's cataloged as a member of WBL 385, which includes the other 4 members of The Box

13.1" (4/10/86): at 166x; faint, small, slightly elongated. A faint star is 30" off the NW edge. Located 4' ESE of mag 9 SAO 82171 and 10' WSW of the NGC 4169 quartet.

24" (5/22/17: at 282x; fairly faint, slightly elongated N-S, modestly brighter core gradually increases to a faint stellar nucleus. A mag 14 star is at the northwest edge [27" from nucleus].