Steve Gottlieb
July 31st, 2013, 07:34 PM
5) Seagull Nebula (LMC-N57 Complex)
NGC 2030 (24"): this is the NW component of the Seagull Nebula; a bright, highly structured 7'x5' emission nebula. The brightest portion of NGC 2030 is a bright streak elongated E-W that extends west from mag 12.3 HD 269810. A large mass of nebulosity spreads to the north from this streak in a more circular 2' patch. This object is incorrectly identified as NGC 2029 in modern catalogues and atlases.
NGC 2032 (24"): this is possibly the brightest section of the Seagull Nebula in the LMC (similar to NGC 2035 1.6' SE). It consists of a very bright, elongated ~SSW-NNE patch, 2'x1', with an unusual kidney-bean shape that is indented or concave on the east side. NGC 2032 is just separated to 2035 by an elongated SSW-NNE on the east side. A faint, thin streamer of nebulosity shoots to the north from 2032. Mag 11.4 HD 269808 is off the SW side.
NGC 2035 (24"): this is the southeast section of the bright Seagull Nebula in the LMC. At 200x using a UHC filter it appeared very bright, moderately large, with a very irregular shape similar to an anvil. The very knotty, complex structure was elongated N-S, 1.6'x1.0', with the widest part of the anvil on the south end. NGC 2032, another very bright section, is very close preceding (roughly 1.6' between centers) and the two sections are separated by a dark lane oriented SSW-NNE. A very faint streamer attached on the NE side flows to the north (NGC 2032 has a similar but brighter streamer). A fairly small detached patch, ~1.2' in diameter, is close SE (identified as LHA 120-N59C in SIMBAD).
LMC-N59C (24"): although not plotted on the Morel close-up chart of the Seagull Nebula, I noted a fairly small detached patch, ~1.2' in diameter, close SE of much brighter NGC 2035. Also located 2' W of mag 10.4 HD 269847.
NGC 2040 (24"): this is a bright, irregularly round glow, ~2' diameter, located ~4' ENE of the Seagull Nebula and part of the same emission complex. The nebulosity surrounds a cluster of roughly 15 stars. Excellent contrast gain using a UHC filter at 200x which reveals a very irregular outline. The POSS image shows delicate filaments to the south forming a large loop or shell (possibly a SNR shell) although this extension was not recorded.
KMHK 1098 (24"): before viewing the Seagull Nebula (NGC 2029-32-35-40), I picked up this very small, moderately bright knot adjacent to a mag 13 star. Without a filter this object has a bright, quasi-stellar core. Adding a UHC filter increased the size to 20", so there appears to be an emission component. Located 2.5' SW of mag 9.3 HD 269804 and 6' NW of the Seagull Nebula.
NGC 2014 (30"): very bright, large cluster or star cloud (stellar association LH 76) with nebulosity, ~50 stars resolved in a 5' region (no distinct boundary on the north side), including many in a 2' string, elongated N-S. A mag 10 star (brightest in the cluster) is at the south end of this string. A portion of the cluster is immersed in nebulosity (LMC-N57A), most prominently on the SE side of the cluster. Irregular haze (roughly elongated SW-NE) extends out of the cluster for a couple of arc minutes on the east side, spreading south and north. Forms an interesting contrast with emission nebula NGC 2020 5' ESE. The remarkable Seagull Nebula (NGC 2030, 2032, 2035) lies ~20' NE.
NGC 2020 (30"): fairly bright, roundish annular emission nebula, slightly elongated SW-NE, 3'x2.5'. The inner edge of the annulus is slightly brighter and sharply defined with a relatively large dark center, ~45" x30". North of center in the ring is a 13th magnitude star, which appears roughly centered in the emission nebula. A 12th magnitude star lies 1.3' S of the central star, at the southern edge of the nebula. Two fainter stars are just north and south of the mag 12 star and the trio is collinear with the central star. Forms a striking due with NGC 2014 (cluster and emission nebula) 5' WNW. The remarkable Seagull Nebula (NGC 2030, 2032, 2035) lies 15' NE.
NGC 2021 (30"): bright, compact knot surrounding two resolved stars, slightly elongated, ~20"x15". This knot is in the northern end of a very large, elongated cluster or star cloud (S-L 567). Extending mostly south of NGC 2021 is a very elongated stream of stars, 5'x1', including a mix of brighter and fainter stars (stellar association LH 78). The densest concentration is a 2' group (S-L 567) on the south end with a number of mag 12-14 stars. Roughly a total of 50-60 stars were resolved. The Seagull Nebula complex (NGC 2030, 2032, 2035) lies 12' SE.
NGC 2030 (24"): this is the NW component of the Seagull Nebula; a bright, highly structured 7'x5' emission nebula. The brightest portion of NGC 2030 is a bright streak elongated E-W that extends west from mag 12.3 HD 269810. A large mass of nebulosity spreads to the north from this streak in a more circular 2' patch. This object is incorrectly identified as NGC 2029 in modern catalogues and atlases.
NGC 2032 (24"): this is possibly the brightest section of the Seagull Nebula in the LMC (similar to NGC 2035 1.6' SE). It consists of a very bright, elongated ~SSW-NNE patch, 2'x1', with an unusual kidney-bean shape that is indented or concave on the east side. NGC 2032 is just separated to 2035 by an elongated SSW-NNE on the east side. A faint, thin streamer of nebulosity shoots to the north from 2032. Mag 11.4 HD 269808 is off the SW side.
NGC 2035 (24"): this is the southeast section of the bright Seagull Nebula in the LMC. At 200x using a UHC filter it appeared very bright, moderately large, with a very irregular shape similar to an anvil. The very knotty, complex structure was elongated N-S, 1.6'x1.0', with the widest part of the anvil on the south end. NGC 2032, another very bright section, is very close preceding (roughly 1.6' between centers) and the two sections are separated by a dark lane oriented SSW-NNE. A very faint streamer attached on the NE side flows to the north (NGC 2032 has a similar but brighter streamer). A fairly small detached patch, ~1.2' in diameter, is close SE (identified as LHA 120-N59C in SIMBAD).
LMC-N59C (24"): although not plotted on the Morel close-up chart of the Seagull Nebula, I noted a fairly small detached patch, ~1.2' in diameter, close SE of much brighter NGC 2035. Also located 2' W of mag 10.4 HD 269847.
NGC 2040 (24"): this is a bright, irregularly round glow, ~2' diameter, located ~4' ENE of the Seagull Nebula and part of the same emission complex. The nebulosity surrounds a cluster of roughly 15 stars. Excellent contrast gain using a UHC filter at 200x which reveals a very irregular outline. The POSS image shows delicate filaments to the south forming a large loop or shell (possibly a SNR shell) although this extension was not recorded.
KMHK 1098 (24"): before viewing the Seagull Nebula (NGC 2029-32-35-40), I picked up this very small, moderately bright knot adjacent to a mag 13 star. Without a filter this object has a bright, quasi-stellar core. Adding a UHC filter increased the size to 20", so there appears to be an emission component. Located 2.5' SW of mag 9.3 HD 269804 and 6' NW of the Seagull Nebula.
NGC 2014 (30"): very bright, large cluster or star cloud (stellar association LH 76) with nebulosity, ~50 stars resolved in a 5' region (no distinct boundary on the north side), including many in a 2' string, elongated N-S. A mag 10 star (brightest in the cluster) is at the south end of this string. A portion of the cluster is immersed in nebulosity (LMC-N57A), most prominently on the SE side of the cluster. Irregular haze (roughly elongated SW-NE) extends out of the cluster for a couple of arc minutes on the east side, spreading south and north. Forms an interesting contrast with emission nebula NGC 2020 5' ESE. The remarkable Seagull Nebula (NGC 2030, 2032, 2035) lies ~20' NE.
NGC 2020 (30"): fairly bright, roundish annular emission nebula, slightly elongated SW-NE, 3'x2.5'. The inner edge of the annulus is slightly brighter and sharply defined with a relatively large dark center, ~45" x30". North of center in the ring is a 13th magnitude star, which appears roughly centered in the emission nebula. A 12th magnitude star lies 1.3' S of the central star, at the southern edge of the nebula. Two fainter stars are just north and south of the mag 12 star and the trio is collinear with the central star. Forms a striking due with NGC 2014 (cluster and emission nebula) 5' WNW. The remarkable Seagull Nebula (NGC 2030, 2032, 2035) lies 15' NE.
NGC 2021 (30"): bright, compact knot surrounding two resolved stars, slightly elongated, ~20"x15". This knot is in the northern end of a very large, elongated cluster or star cloud (S-L 567). Extending mostly south of NGC 2021 is a very elongated stream of stars, 5'x1', including a mix of brighter and fainter stars (stellar association LH 78). The densest concentration is a 2' group (S-L 567) on the south end with a number of mag 12-14 stars. Roughly a total of 50-60 stars were resolved. The Seagull Nebula complex (NGC 2030, 2032, 2035) lies 12' SE.