NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 2264 17.5" (12/28/00): besides the bright nebulosity extending southwest of mag 4.7 S Monocerotis (15), most of the central region of the cluster was set against a weakly glowing background (part of Sh 2-273). At the southern end of the cluster (tip of the "Christmas Tree"), this low surface brightness glow was more evident and clearly extended beyond the 7th magnitude star at the tip towards the SE. The west edge of this weakly glowing extension forms the eastern border of the dark Cone Nebula (LDN 1613). There is a lack of faint stars within the region of the Cone Nebula but the inclusion itself was not darker than the general background. 17.5" (12/30/99): nebulosity was quite prominent to the SW of south Mon as well as a weaker glow in the vicinity around ·954 at the south end of the cluster. At 100x (unfiltered) there appeared to be a slightly darker vacuity to the south of this star in the position of the Cone nebula but there is no sharp "edge" with the nearby nebulosity. 13" (11/5/83): very bright, very large scattered group, elongated N-S, striking Christmas tree shape. A bright multiple star 15 Monocerotis = south Mon (4.7-7.5 at 2.8" and companions) is at the base of the tree at the north end of the cluster and is surrounded by several stars. Easy nebulosity is visible which extends 10' SW of south Mon and includes a group of three brighter stars. At the south end of the cluster is the double star ·954 = 7.1/9.6 at 13". The Cone nebula (not seen) extends south of ·954 and "points" towards ·954. 8": bright, very large, scattered, Christmas tree outline, fairly rich, includes multiple star south Mon. Naked-eye (1/8/00): vislble as a 4th magnitude nebulous glow including the mag 5 star (S Mon), but appears much smaller naked-eye than the listed dimensions.