Andrew Cooper
Dec 19, 2024    Waikoloa, HI (map)
15cm f/4 Newtonian, Makaʻiki Mk2 @ 22x
Seeing: 7 Transparency: 6 Moon: 0%

Large, bright and obvious, large and very rich, resolved, stars 7th to 10th magnitude, a dense region of rich galactic starfield well over a degree across and located about 2.5° north of NGC 869 and NGC 884 to which it is connected by a conspicuous 2° arc of 6th to 9th magnitude stars that includes χ Per and 8 Per

Describing Stock 2 as a cluster seems difficult to justify visually, the appearance is more that of a galactic star cloud than a proper open cluster, Archinal & Hynes classify this as a cluster, as does SIMBAD, WEBDA offers good data on the population of over 160 members

In an RFT or good binoculars the entire region is simply spectacular

Rev. T.W. Webb
May 19, 1885    Hardwick, Herefordshire, England (map)

Follow the curve of stars N [from NGC869/NGC884], which leads to glorious region at 2h6m, N. 58°55'.

― Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes, T. W. Webb, 1917