NGC 1788

NGC 1788 = LBN 916
05 06 53.2 -03 20 27
Size 8x5

17.5" (2/9/02): at 144x this is a bright reflection nebula involving two mag 10 
and 11.5 stars.  The nebulosity is irregularly bright in a 4'x3' region 
elongated NW-SE and locally very bright in a knot surrounding the mag 11.5 star 
near the SE end.  Enhanced by a Deep Sky filter at low power.  The brighter mag 
10 star ~2' NW has a faint companion and is also encased in the glow as well as 
a couple of other fainter stars.  A faint extension fans out to the NE from the 
mag 11 star and some haze is suspected to the south, increasing the size to  ~7' 
and involving a few additional stars.  N1788 is located within a bright 
trapezoid consisting of three mag 8.5-9 stars and a mag 10 star (sides 9'-13')

17.5" (12/23/89): bright, fairly large, locally very bright surrounding a mag 12 
star on the south end.  This star appears slightly nonstellar as difficult to 
separate from bright haze.  Extends NW to include a mag 10 star and three other 
faint stars are involved in the brightest portion.  Very faint nebulosity also 
extends to N and further E.

8": moderately bright reflection nebula, large, brightest in center, two stars 
involved, extends to E.

- by Steve Gottlieb