NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 1981 24" (1/22/15): at 200x; HD 37040 = ·750 = 6.4/8.4 at 4" on the northeast side of the cluster was easily resolved and ·743 = 7.7/8.3 at 1.8", a tight pair in the western side was just resolved. The cluster filled most of the 30' field. 18" (1/17/09): this very bright, scattered 25' cluster is situated just north of the cluster/emission nebula NGC 1973/75/77 and both appear to be part of the same complex at 73x. Contains 7 stars mag 6-7.5 and a dozen stars mag 9 or brighter. Most of the remaining stars are much fainter and more concentrated on the west side and streaming off the northwest end. 8": bright cluster with about two dozen stars mag 6 and fainter. Very large, scattered. Includes ·750 = 6/8 at 4". To the south is another group of bright stars surrounded by the emission nebula NGC 1973-1977. Naked-eye (10/23/11): visible as a hazy glow just north of the three "stars" in the sword. None of the individual mag 6.5 stars are resolved naked-eye as they are two tightly grouped, but the cluster is easily resolved in binoculars.