Telescope:

 8" f5 Newtonian reflector

Camera:

 ST-8XME, self-guided, binned 1x1, temp -25c, camera control MaxIm DL 4.56

Image:

Red (Hoya 25A) filter, 300 minutes (30 x 10 minute subs), 01/12/14/2007

Processing:

CCDStack 1.1, Photoshop 7.0

Location:

 Rolling Roof Observatory, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (+34d 13m 29s -118h 52m 20s)

Notes:

This image replaces a red filtered 96 minute Track & Accumulate image from 02/22/2006. See the LDN 1622 complex, which is about 2.6 degrees to the Northeast.

From the NGC / IC Project:

Contemporary Visual Observation(s) for NGC 2068

NGC 2068 = M78 = Ced 55u
05 46 46.7 +00 04.7
V = 8.0;  Size 8x6

17.5" (12/20/95): very bright reflection nebula surrounding two mag 10.5 stars 
with a mag 13 star involved at the S end.  Large, irregular shape, 6'x4'.  
Brightest along the north side which has a sharply defined slightly bowed-out 
edge with one of the mag 10.5 stars near the midpoint.  A brighter knot is just 
following this star.  Irregularly fans out towards the south and fades with no 
distinct borders but tapers somewhat at the south edge.

17.5" (2/1/92):very bright, surprisingly large, 6'x4'.  Surrounds two mag 10 
stars although the nebulosity extends further to E of these stars.  Also a mag 
13 star is embedded in the SE end.  Brighter and sharper edge gently curves from 
W to N side.  Appears to fan out to the SE where the nebula gradually fades into 
background.  Brightest in a group of reflection nebulae including N2064 7' SW 
and N2067 6' WNW.

8": bright reflection nebula, large, NW edge brighter and sharper, elongated, 
roughly rectangular, wide pair of mag 10 stars involved, striking.  Brightest in 
a group of reflection nebulae.

- by Steve Gottlieb

NGC 2068 = M 78.  See NGC 2067. - Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.

NGC 2071 = LBN 938 = Ced 55v
05 47 07.2 +00 17 39
Size 4x3

17.5" (12/20/95): fairly bright reflection nebula surrounding a mag 9.5 star, 
3.5' diameter.  Shape appears irregular (although no distinct borders) but 
extends more to the S side of the star which has a faint companion close S.  A 
second mag 9.5 star (not involved) lies 3.5' NW.  The field is strangely lacking 
in stars due to obscuration.

17.5" (2/1/92): fairly bright reflection nebula surrounds a mag 10 star although 
extends farther S.  A second mag 13 star is embedded just S of the bright star.  
The round outline gradually fades into the background.  A mag 10 star is 3.5' NW 
but the field is strangely devoid of stars due to obscuring dust.  Located 15' 
NNE of M78.

8": faint reflection nebula.  Located 15' NNE of M78.  Surround the SE member of 
a mag 10 double star.

- by Steve Gottlieb

NGC 2067 = Ced 55t
05 46 26.3 +00 05 43
Size 8x3

13.1": extremely faint, suspected reflection nebula 5' WNW of M78.  Sighting 
uncertain as only visible fleetingly.  [It's not clear from my description 
whether I observed the very low surface brightness circular patch NW of M78 or 
the brightest portion of the streamer pointing towards N2064].

Discovered by Tempel (I).  According to Corwin, "NGC 2067 is a part of the large 
complex of nebulae around M78 = N2068. Found by Tempel, neither the position nor 
the description makes it really clear as to which part of the nebula he saw. The 
first position I give in the main table is for a large patch of pretty low 
surface brightness nebulosity about 5 arcmin northwest of M78. But this is not 
the brightest nebulosity in the area. That is a knot about 3 arcmin southwest, 
the brightest part of a long faint streamer pointed toward NGC 2064. This, 
however, is much more east than north of M78, while Tempel says that M78 is to 
the south.  So, a bit of a mystery here -- which part of the nebulosity was 
Tempel refering to? I've stuck with the larger more northerly end of the nebula, 
but could well be wrong, so have also put the southern knot in the main table."

- by Steve Gottlieb

NGC 2067 is a part of the large complex of nebulae around M78 = N2068.  Found 
by Tempel, neither the position nor the description makes it really clear as 
to which part of the nebula he saw.  The first position I give in the main 
table is for a large patch of pretty low surface brightness nebulosity about 
5 arcmin northwest of M78.  But this is not the brightest nebulosity in the 
area.  That is a knot about 3 arcmin southwest, the brightest part of a long 
faint streamer pointed toward NGC 2064.  This, however, is much more east than
north of M78, while Tempel says that M78 is to the south.  

So, a bit of a mystery here -- which part of the nebulosity was Tempel 
referring to?  I've stuck with the larger more northerly end of the nebula, but
could well be wrong, so have also put the southern knot in the main table.
 - Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.

NGC 2064 = LBN 939 = Ced 55s
05 46 18.4 +00 00 21
Size 12x2

17.5": very faint reflection nebula in the M78 complex, but clearly visible.  
Appears elongated 2:1 SW-NE, at most 2'x1'.  There are no involved stars.  
Located 7' SW of M78 and 4' SE of a mag 10.5 star.  The large listed dimensions 
refer to a very elongated strip extending NNE on the west side of M78.

13": very faint reflection nebula, small.  Located 7' WSW of M78 and 4' SE of a 
mag 10.5 star.  This difficult object is near the visual threshold.

- by Steve Gottlieb

NGC 2064.  See NGC 2067. - Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.