DISCOVERY OF A SECOND COMPANION OF DWINGELOO-1

Deep near-infrared CCD imaging of the field of the recently discovered nearby galaxies Dwingeloo 1 and 2 has revealed a third, previously un known galaxy which is most likely a second physical companion of Dwing eloo 1. Only 9'.2 to the southwest of Dwingeloo 1 is a diffuse feature less oval with a diameter of 1'.9 in I. Isophotes are oriented nearly east-west and within 30 degrees of the direction of Dwingeloo 1. Neutr al hydrogen studies have failed to reveal a source at this position, a nd no H alpha emission is evident. Thus, the object is probably a dwar f spheroidal companion of Dwingeloo 1, although there is a small possi bility that it is a quiescent gas-rich dwarf with a velocity low enoug h that its signal is confused with emission from the Milky Way. The ga laxy is almost certainly a member of the IC 342-Maffei 1 group, thereb y placing it 3+/-1 Mpc away. (C) 1997 American Astronomical Society.