NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 2327 is a compact HII region, or part of one, in the large, sinuous nebula found by Max Wolf south of IC 2177, which see.

===== NGC 2327 18" (2/23/06): moderately bright, 1' reflection nebula surrounding a mag 9.5 star with a mag 12 companion at 7". Viewed unfiltered at 225x. 17.5" (3/8/02): small but high surface brightness reflection nebula surrounding an unequal pair of mag 9.5/12.5 stars at 7" separation. At 280x, the nebulosity is round and approximately 50" in size although it fades smoothly into the background and may be a bit larger. This small knot of nebulosity is at the western end of a striking arc of 6 stars which trail off to the NE. The next star in the arc, 1.5' E, also seems to be encased in a very small halo. A similar mag 9.5 comparison star (with no halo) lies 4' ESE and several other mag 9.5-10.5 stars are scattered across the field. The background sky in this vicinity is weakly luminous, as NGC 2327 is situated midway along the western side of IC 2177, a huge IC strip of nebulosity straddling Canis Major and Monoceros. This object did not respond to OIII, UHC or H-beta filters so appears to be predominantly a reflection nebula. This bright nebula was discovered by William Herschel (IV 25) in 1785 and reobserved by his son, John. Although their positions and descriptions match this object there is a great deal of confusion in the literature as to its identification and position and some sources misidentify NGC 2327 with the much larger Sh 2-292 = Gum 1 located 50' to the north (also associated with IC 2177). 13" (12/22/84): fairly faint reflection nebula, fairly small, surrounds a mag 8 star (close unequal double). Located along the faint, extremely large, curving strip of nebulosity = IC 2177.