NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 2015. It's relatively difficult to pin down the star cloud JH describes from one observation on 24 November 1834: 05 33 05.4 159 22 28 The general middle of a cluster of loose stars 11 ... ... 16 m. It is rich, and fills the whole field. This accounts for the considerable scatter in positions estimated over the years. A half-degree wide image from the DSS2R centered on JH's position does indeed show a large LMC star cloud (containing two smaller clusters) in the area. However, I put the center somewhat to the northeast of JH's position. I've taken Archinal's position which seems to be a good compromise for the object.

===== NGC 2015 30" (10/12/15 - OzSky): this bright star cloud extends up to 8' diameter, spreading out on the west side and reaching NGC 2009 in the northwest corner. Near the east end is open cluster S-L 557, which is often taken for NGC 2015. It appeared fairly bright, fairly small, very irregular outline, 35" diameter. It contains a brighter mag 13.5 star and at least a half-dozen mag 14.5-16 stars over haze. Mag 9.7 HD 269720 lies 2.3' NE. Extending west and spreading north and south is a large star cloud (association LH 74) containing a number of mag 12 stars and at least 70 in total. The background glow of unresolved stars is bright in this entire region. NGC 2009 is 7' NW of S-L 557. 25" (10/10/15 - OzSky): at 318x; large star cloud with a few dozen mag 11-15 stars. Not well detached in this rich region of the LMC as the clouds extends to the west and north. On the east end is S-L 557, which includes a single brighter mag 13.5 star and ~6 total, over unresolved glow.