NGC 1980

NGC 1980
DSS image of the open cluster NGC 1980, located on the southern tip of the Orion Nebula, and the nebula NGC 1982 (M43) located on its northern edge
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
Right ascension	05^h 25^m 26.0^s[1]
Declination	−05° 54′ 36″[1]
Distance	1793 ly[2] (550 pc[2])
Apparent magnitude (V)	2.5[3]
Apparent dimensions (V)	14.00 x 14.0[4]
Physical characteristics
Estimated age	4.7 million
Other designations	Lower Sword,[5] Collinder 72, OCL 529, WH V 31
Associations
Constellation	Orion

The Orion Nebula M42 with NGC 1980 on the right (right is south)

NGC 1980 (also known as OCL 529, Collinder 72 and The Lost Jewel of Orion^[6]) is a young open cluster associated with an emission nebula in the constellation Orion. It was discovered by William Herschel on 31 January 1786.^[7] Its apparent size is 14 × 14 arc minutes and it is located around the star Iota Orionis on the southern tip of the Orion constellation.^[4][8]

Herschel made his first observation of the cluster which was called WH V 31 on 31 January 1786, but he possibly observed it during his studies of double stars on 20 September 1783.^[7]

References

1. "NED results for object NGC 1980*". NED. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
2. "The open cluster NGC 1980". In the Sky. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
3. "ngc 1980". sim-id. Retrieved 2020-06-07. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)^{[permanent dead link‍]}
4. "Object: NGC 1980 (*)". SEDS. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
5. "NGc 1980". sim-id. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
6. O'Meara, Stephen James (2007). Deep-Sky Companions: Hidden Treasures. Cambridge University Press. pp. 155–157. ISBN 9780521837040.
7. "NGC 1980 (= OCL 529), the ί Orionis Nebula". cseligman. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
8. "Star Cluster Near Orion Nebula Revealed in Telescope Views". Space.com. November 14, 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2017.