Andrew Cooper
Nov 19, 2023    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 76x
Seeing: 6 Transparency: 7 Moon: 0%

A large rich cluster in a wonderful field, a thick swarm of 10-12th magnitude stars fills a half degree region embedded in a rich galactic starfield, a distinct and well defined cluster, bright and obvious, visible in the 50mm finder, fully resolved, on the northern margin the bright round planetary nebula NGC 2438 glows in the midst of the cluster about 1' in diameter.

About 1° west-northwest lies the bright cluster M47, punctuated by bright 5th to 8th magnitude stars it is a stark contrast to the 10th magnitude swarm of M46, about 1° east lies the wide 5th magnitude pair 2 Pup and 4 Pup, the entire region is filled with rich galactic starfield making this one of the most lovely regions in the entire sky

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

A beautiful rich cluster ina heavy galactic starfield, large, bright, filling the field of the 22mm Pan, while rich and obvious the cluster is not distinct fading into the starfield in all directions, the planetary NGC2438 is notable in the northern margin

Andrew Cooper
Jan 14, 2018    Kaʻohe, Mauna Kea, HI (map)
28cm f/10 SCT, NexStar 11" GyPSy @ 127x
Seeing: 7 Transparency: 7 Moon: 0%

A beautiful swarm that fills the field, very rich, large, bright, fully resolved, a very homogeneous cluster with a very limited range of magnitudes visible, NGC2438 is visible in the northern section

Andrew Cooper
Apr 16, 1999    Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ (map)
20cm f/10 SCT

Much dimmer than M47, but far more members, NGC2438 clearly visible on the north side

Rev. T.W. Webb
May 19, 1885    Hardwick, Herefordshire, England (map)
94mm f/18 Tully Achromat

Beautiful circular cloud of small stars (H. 10 mg.) about ½° in diam.: a little p the group round 4, nearer to it than NGC2422. NGC2438, a little feeble neb. on its N. verge is in La.'s 20-ft. refl., 'an astonishing and interesting object'; he and E. of Rosse see it annular: so Buffham, 9-in.

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

Captain William Henry Smyth
Mar 28, 1836    No. 6 The Crescent, Bedford, England (map)
150mm f/17.6 refractor by Tully 1827

A very delicate double star in a fine cluster, outlying the Galaxy, over the Argo's poop. A 8½, and B 11, both pale white. A noble though rather loose assemblage of stars from the 8th to the 13th magnitude, more than filling the field, especially in length, with power 93; the most compressed part trending sf and np. Among the larger stars on the northern verge is an extremely faint planetary nebula, which is 39 ♅. iv., and 464 of his son's Catalogue. [NGC 2438] This was discovered by Messier in 1769, who considered it as being "rather enveloped in nebulous matter;" this opinion, however, must have arisen from the splendid glow of the mass, for judging from his own remark, it is not likely that he perceived the planetary nebula on the north. ♅., who observed it in 1786, expressly says, "no connexion with the cluster, which is free from nebulosity." Such is my own view on attentively gazing; but the impression left on the senses, is that of awful vastness and bewildering distance, yet inducing the opinion, that those bodies bespangling the vastness of space, may differ in magnitude and other attributes.

To fish up this object, an occult line must be carried from α Leporis through Sirius, and extended 13½°, or nearly as far again, to the eastward; where a glance from Castor over Procyon passes through it. In the following field there is a coarse pair of 7th-magnitude stars, lying sf and np of each other.

― A Cycle of Celestial Objects Vol II, The Bedford Catalogue, William Henry Smyth, 1844

John Herschel
Dec 16, 1827    

The brightest part of a very fine rich cluster; stars of 10th magnitude; which fills the field. Within the cluster at its northern edge is a fine planetary nebula.

Charles Messier
Feb 19, 1771    

Cluster of very-small stars, between the head of the big Dog [Canis Major] and two hind paws of the Unicorn [Monoceros], determined by comparing this cluster with the 2nd star of the Ship [2 Navis], 6th magnitude, according to Flamsteed; they can see these stars only with good telescopes; the cluster contains a little nebulosity.

― Connaissance des Temps, 1781

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