600/800mm - 24" (6/30/19): UGC 8972 is the southern member of an interacting contact pair with UGC 8973, centered only 0.7' N. At 375x; it appeared very faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 N-S, 30"x20", diffuse, low surface brightness, very little central concentration. Located 7' NW of mag 6.7 HD 122834.