NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 1999 48" (10/25/11): stunning view at 375x and 488x. The high surface brightness reflection nebulosity surrounding the mag 10.5-11.0 illuminating star (V380 Ori) was intensely bright. The dark splotch (possibly a Bok globule) that blots out a portion of the nebula just west of center appeared sharply etched into the nebulosity and formed a "keyhole" or "anvil" outline with a thin extension to the east and a thicker north-south flat section on the west. The contrast of this dark nebulosity was extremely high and appeared virtually identical to images. 18" (2/24/06): spectacular view at 565x. The bright mag 10.5 central star appears slightly offset east of center, though this may be an optical affect due to the very dark patch on the west side. The bright, 2' reflection nebula is slightly brighter just following the central star. The irregular dark vacuity is large and detailed at this power and appears anvil-shaped. The base of the anvil is along the western side and oriented N-S. There is a narrow extension to the south that tapers to a wedge. Along the north side, the globule extends to the east and partially wraps around the central star. This was the first time I've seen the dark patch take on an appearance similar to the well-known HST image. 17.5" (2/22/03): remarkable, bright 2' reflection nebula surrounding mag 10.5 V380 Orionis (emission-line star). At 220x, a prominent, curving dark patch or globule wraps around the star along the west side. Two of the brightest Herbig-Haro objects are close south, with HH 2 lies 4.3' due south and fainter HH 1 2.5' is SSW. 17.5" (2/8/90): bright, high surface brightness emission nebula surrounding a mag 10 star, round, about 2' diameter. There is a striking curved irregular dark patch or globule along the west side of the central star that is remarkable at high power. The nebulosity is weakest on the SE side of star. Easily takes 220x-280x. 17.5" (2/22/86): bright, round nebula around a 10th magnitude illuminating star. A eye-catching, curved, irregular dark patch is NW of the central star within the nebulosity. 13" (2/25/84): a curving dark lane is visible west of the central star with faint nebulosity west of the gap. 8" (11/28/81): small circular nebulosity surrounds a mag 10 star.