NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 1788 18" (1/1/08): very interesting, bright reflection nebula at 175x. Two brighter stars are involved in the brightest portion of the nebula with a mag 10 star (very unequal double) at the NW end. An oval glow extends ~4'x2.5' to the SE and contains a bright "knot" that surrounds a mag 11.5 star on the SE side. Two fainter stars are embedded within the glow and form a rhombus with the brighter stars at opposite ends. The SW edge of the main body has a sharper edge (due to dust). Surrounding this region are faint extensions that significantly increase the total size to ~8x6'. Towards the SE, dim haze can be seen as far as a 2' pair of mag 12.5 stars. Broad, wispy extensions appears to feather off to the NE for ~6' with additional faint haze to the south. The entire complex is bounded by several mag 8-9 stars forming a striking star field. 17.5" (2/9/02): at 144x this is a bright reflection nebula involving two mag 10 and 11.5 stars. The nebulosity is irregularly bright in a 4'x3' region elongated NW-SE and locally very bright in a knot surrounding the mag 11.5 star near the SE end. Enhanced by a Deep Sky filter at low power. The brighter mag 10 star ~2' NW has a faint companion and is also encased in the glow as well as a couple of other fainter stars. A faint extension fans out to the NE from the mag 11 star and some haze is suspected to the south, increasing the size to ~7' and involving a few additional stars. NGC 1788 is located within a bright trapezoid consisting of three mag 8.5-9 stars and a mag 10 star (sides of 9'-13') 17.5" (12/23/89): bright, fairly large, locally very bright surrounding a mag 12 star on the south end. This star appears slightly nonstellar as difficult to separate from bright haze. Extends NW to include a mag 10 star and three other faint stars are involved in the brightest portion. Very faint nebulosity also extends to north and further east. 8" (12/6/80): moderately bright reflection nebula, large, brightest in center, two stars involved, extends to east.