NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 2247. Yann Pothier has pointed out in an email of 18 April 2016 that this has been credited, perhaps incorrectly, to LdR based on an observation by R.J. Mitchell on 14 February 1857: "* np easily seen. vvF diffused neby, about 1' or 1 1/2' n of the recognized nebula?" The main object here is NGC 2245 -- Mitchell's description exactly matches that nebula and its fainter extension to the northeast. If Dreyer's attribution of the discovery of NGC 2247 to LdR rests on this observation, it is wrong as the second NGC object is about 11 arcminutes northeast rather than 1-1.5 arcminutes that Mitchell wrote. On the other hand, Dreyer may possibly also be referring to the 28 February 1850 observation by Johnstone Stoney. In this, Stoney tells us that "... This neb is part of an enormous neby which I traced f and n to a great dist some degrees. ..." This is obviously not an explicit statement of the existence of NGC 2247, but Stoney must have at least seen the involved star -- it is the brightest one northeast of NGC 2245 where he was looking. Since the nebula around that star was visible to Swift (his description reads, "Nebulous *; v diff; B * exactly in center of L eF nebulosity; f [GC] 1425 [NGC 2245] 28s and is 10' n. Resembles [GC] 4634 [NGC 7023, which see] in Cepheus, but is fainter."), it would almost certainly have been visible to Stoney using a much larger telescope. Without knowing exactly which 72-inch observation Dreyer was referring to, it is difficult to know whether to strike out or retain the "LdR" attribution in the NGC. What is without doubt is that Swift clearly picked up NGC 2247 in November of 1883.

===== NGC 2247 17.5" (1/19/91): fairly faint, fairly small, oval shape. Surrounds a bright mag 8.5 star (Herbig Be star V700 Mon) although extends further to the east side of the star. Reflection nebula NGC 2245 lies 12' SSW. 13" (1/18/85): fairly faint nebulosity surrounds mag 8 star, round, fans out to south in direction of three faint stars.