NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 2396. The scattered bright stars that comprise this cluster did not much impress either WH ("A forming cluster of coarsely scattered stars 20 or 30 minutes in diameter") or JH ("A straggling portion of [the] Milky Way"). Nevertheless, they kept it in their lists, and it appears in the GC and NGC with JH's position (WH's position is 16 seconds on east). Given WH's estimate of the large size, it is not too difficult to pick out the "cluster" on the DSS images.

===== NGC 2396 18" (3/2/08): at 94x, roughly three dozen stars are resolved, mostly mag 11-13.5 with a pale orange mag 8.5 star on the west side. At 175x, roughly 50 stars are resolved in a 10' region. A chain of stars extends a few arcminutes NE from the mag 8.5 star and then abruptly loops due south for the same distance. This chain then curves around making a large oval loop forming the east side of the cluster. Located 10' S of a triple star (ADS 6104) consisting of a mag 8.5 primary with mag 8.5 and 9.5 companions at 20" and 23". The brighter two stars have an orange/blue color contrast. Located in a rich star field so the borders of the cluster are ill-defined. 25x80mm finder (3/2/08): roundish, glowing region just following a mag 8 star. 17.5" (2/8/91): about three dozen stars mostly mag 11-13 are resolved at 82x. Evenly distributed, not rich and does not stand out well in a rich field. The brightest star is mag 8.7 SAO 152910 situated at the west side. Located 10' S of ·1097 = 6.1/8.5 at 20"!