Andrew Cooper
Feb 7, 2018    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 56x
Seeing: 7 Transparency: 6 Moon: 0%

A bright reflection nebula just north of the famous Great Nebula of Orion M42 and often overlooked as a result, large, subtle, surrounding a dozen 5-7 magnitude stars, 20' across, faint, brighter near the brighter stars

This object encompasses two other catalogued NGC objects, NGC1973 and NGC1975 which are two brighter sections of the larger NGC1977, here in the neighborhood, where lights limit dark adaptation the two smaller nebulae parts are distinct

Andrew Cooper
Jan 13, 2018    Kaʻohe, Mauna Kea, HI (map)
28cm f/10 SCT, NexStar 11" GyPSy @ 80x
Seeing: 7 Transparency: 7 Moon: 0%

A bright nebula surrounding a handful of bright stars, bright, large, filling the field of view, two distinct sections divided by an east-west dark rift, notably brighter near each star as one would expect in a reflection nebula, the stars are considered an open cluster in this star forming region with a handful of magnitude 5-7 stars scattered over a 5' area, quite a beautiful object

Drawings, descriptions, and CCD photos are copyright Andrew Cooper unless otherwise noted, no usage without permission.

A complete list of credits and sources can be found on the about page