NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 2070 = 30 Doradus. For this splendid, big superassociation, one of the largest known in the Local Group, I've taken the position of the central star (or star cluster?) itself to represent the entire nebula. This also figures in the identification of several of JH's objects in the LMC. See, for an example, "hLMC710" in the "notngc" files.

===== NGC 2070 24" (11/18/12 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 200x unfiltered, I examined the 30 Doradus cluster = R136 cluster at the heart of the Tarantula Nebula. The cluster is dominated by R136a, a 10th magnitude bloated "star" at the center that would not focus sharply. Surrounding this star was a compact but very rich carpet of dozens of mag 14-15.5 stars packed into a 1' region that were much too numerous to count. 24" (4/5/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): The Tarantula nebula was simply unreal at 200x in the 13mm Ethos with a UHC filter -- better than any photo I've seen and convincingly 3-dimensional, even though I viewed it late so the elevation was only 20¡. Although this magnification brought out an unbelievable amount of detail in the loops and ribbons, the main complex fit snugly in the eyepiece field (30'). 20" (7/8/02 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): the Tarantula is the largest known emission region (800-1000 light years) and is easily visible to the naked-eye from Australia. The view of the Tarantula early in the morning through a 20" f/5 at 127x (20 Nagler) and OIII filter was jaw-dropping! Near the center are several bright loops and arcs. Extending out are a number of convoluted loops including one heart-shaped arch which is quite large. Running out from the central region of the nebula are streaming lanes of nebulosity. One in particular extends quite a long distance and the outer loops and streamers seem to merge into some of the nearby HII regions forming a mind-boggling complex. There are perhaps 10 different loops and ribbons in the main body giving a 3-dimensional effect. Near the center lies an extremely compact cluster of superluminous stars (R136) but only a few were visible including what appears to be a single bright star. Also a number of additional stars are scattered about the main body. 12" (6/29/02 - Bargo, Australia): first view of the Tarantula in Les Dalrymple's 12" was early in the evening, very low in the southern sky (20¡ elevation) and without a filter. Even under these conditions it was a fascinating sight Ð fairly bright, detailed, 15' convoluted, mottled nebulosity with several striking loops or ribbons which radiate out from the central region. Sweeping in the nearby fields I ran across numerous small knots of nebulosity and small clusters. 10x30 IS binoculars (1/21/12): viewed the Tarantula Nebula in a 19" dobsonian (pointed horizontally) and in my binoculars. ÊAt a declination of -69.1¡, the Tarantula just skimmed the horizon from the 9300' Mauna Kea Visitor Center, culminating 1.1¡ above the horizon! ÊStill with atmospheric refraction, it was obvious in the binoculars. ÊThere was too much extinction and seeing effects for much structure in the 19".