Harold Corwin

IC 349 is a knot in the Merope nebula about 36 arcsec away from the star. For many years, I had thought it equal to NGC 1435 (which see), but that is the much larger and fainter nebulosity stretching 10 to 15 arcmin south of Merope. Like the larger nebula, IC 349 is a reflection nebula. It is, in fact, the brightest part of the nebulosity around the Pleiades, but is difficult to see because of the proximity to the star.

In his discovery note in AN 3018, Barnard has micrometric measurements of IC 349 with respect to Merope. It is from those that I have reduced the position given in the table. The bright glare around Merope is so intense that IC 349 is difficult to photograph. Nevertheless, it has been done with some regularity over the years. Herbig has the full story in AJ 111, 1241, 1996 (with a follow up by Theodore Simon et al. in AJ 121, 3138, 2001 where they have a color HST image of the nebula).

When I was observing regularly, I didn't know enough to look for IC 349 as a "separate" object, or I might have done so. It will certainly be challenging for any observer who does go after it.

― IC Notes by Harold Corwin

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