NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 3984 is almost certainly the same object as NGC 3971. John Herschel found N3984 during his Sweep 342 (10 April 1831), and described it as "eF, R, bM, 25 arcsec." He adds an interesting note (aluded to in the IC2 Notes by Dreyer): "Supposed at the time to be II.724 [NGC 3971], but on reducing the obs, it differs 1 min in RA and 1 deg in PD, BOTH which can hardly be mistakes" (Sir John's emphasis). Yet the only reasonable solution is to say that both ARE mistakes. JH found N3971 in Sweep 67 (2 April 1827), describing it "pB, R, bM. An exact obs." The difference in estimated brightness is significant, but many of JH's multiply-observed objects have the same wide range of description. Otherwise, however, the descriptions for these two objects are the same. Also, the position that he gives for N3971 is (within his usual statistical errors) 1 degree north, and 1 minute preceding N3984, just as he noted. Since each nebula was noted in only one sweep, and since there are only very faint stars in the vicinity of his position for N3984, I am going to adopt the identity.

===== NGC 3984 See observing notes for NGC 3971 and UGC 6943 (identified as NGC 3984 in modern catalogues). Identification not certain.