600/800mm - 24" (6/30/19): UGC 8973 is the northern member of an interacting contact pair with UGC 8972, centered only 0.7' S. At 375x; it appeared faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 NW-SE, 35"x25", diffuse, low surface brightness, no structure. Located 8' NW of mag 6.7 HD 122834.