NGC 2020

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Historical observations

Dunlop, James (1827)

Discovered by James Dunlop from Paramatta, New South Wales, and included as No. 218 in his catalogue of 1827. Using a 9-inch f/12 telescope he described it as "a pretty bright round nebula, 30 arcseconds diameter, with a minute star slightly involved in the margin."

John Herschel (1847) Cape Observations

Observed by Sir John Herschel at the Cape of Good Hope with an 18-inch f/13 speculum telescope. He recorded it as "pretty bright, very large, very gradually a little brighter in the middle, slightly elongated; 4'. A fine cluster precedes it." His second observation was recorded as "very faint, very large, round, very gradually a little brighter in the middle; 4' diameter."

Published comments

Photo index

Photo Index by Jim Lucyk: Sky&Tel. 10/69 p228, Astronomy mag. 1/83 p84, Deep Sky #5 Wi83 p13.

Bailey, S.I. (1908)

"cluster; fairly condensed; apparently inv in neb; LMC."

Bailey, S.I. (1908) A catalogue of bright stars and nebulae. Ann.Harv.Coll.Obs., 60(8), 199.

Sulentic & Tifft (1973)

The RNGC (Sulentic and Tifft 1973) notes that this is a diffuse nebula in the LMC.

Modern observations

Brian Skiff

15cm - mod f 1'.5 neb mildly enhanced by UHC. wk even concen to m13 cen *.

BS, 18Nov1993, LCO.

Contemporary observations

Magda Streicher

2006 February 01

NGC 2020, NGC 2011, NGC 2014, NGC 2021, NGC 2032, NGC 2035, and NGC 2040 viewed together.

16-inch SCT, at 127x (26 arc min), without any filter.

A very hazy field of view containing several nebulae.

NGC 2020 looks like a soft even round glow, very smooth, faded away fainter into the field. The ignited star is easily seen which I estimate about 13+, which gives the impression of riding along on top of this glow. The 12.2 magnitude GSC 9162 292 on the south end of the nebula is a disturbing factor and draw the eye away. The nebulosity of the nebula stretch almost halfway to the lovely close grouping NGC 2014, about 5' NW which gives the nebula a possible size of 2+'.

NGC 2032 and NGC 2035 is the most outstanding feature in the field of view.

NGC 2011 although small is relatively bright. I detect a very compact faint small group barely visible, about 6' straight NE from NGC 2014 to form a tri angle with NGC 2021 which is an elongated SW-N scattering of faint stars almost 6' long in the north of the field (26').

16-inch SCT, at 127x (26 arc min), and 290x (17.4arc min), with O-III filter

The whole of the field nebulosity is very dusty and overwhelming. Streaks of nebulosity can be seen with haze filters amongst the field stars. NGC 2020 nebula is much more evident, with the igniting star seen only with averted vision. The star GSC 9162 292 on the south end is still visible. With a higher magnification 290x and the 0111 filter the NGC 2020 nebula is not so round and smooth in texture anymore. Flimsy nebulosity in the dusty field (26arc min.) is more obvious in the SE of the field of view.

NGC 2032 and NGC 2035 show off two lobs connected very barely on the eastern side and open up to the west (almost like a pair of open lips). The NW lobe of NGC 2032 is slightly larger than NGC 2035.

The soft NGC 2040 elongated NW-SE flimsy streak can be seen now just east of the pair of lips (NGC 2032 & 2035).

NGC 2011 is a very small nebula surrounds an 8.4 magnitude star in the NW of the field (26arc min.) and easily seen. Grow slightly larger at 290x and 0111filter.

16-inch SCT, at 127x (26 arc min), and 290x (17.4arc min), with Deep Sky Filter.

All the nebulae show lifted somehow out against the field of view. With higher magnification 290x and DSF, NGC 2020 gives me the impression of a distant globular out of focus glow.

At 290x (17.4) the following on the other objects: NGC 2032 the larger NW lob of the two, breeze away more to the NW to give it a slightly elongated appearance, whereas NGC 2035 is more roundish in shape, slightly brighter, with a very faint star imbedded. Nebulosity very much intervenes with NGC 2014 (the outstanding group just 5'to the NW of NGC 2020).

The small NGC 2011 is really outstanding bright against the field of view.

NGC 2040, show a pinacle of light NW-SE, more or less 2+' long.

16-inch SCT, at 127x (26 arc min), and 290x (17.4arc min), with UltraHighContrastst Filter.

The filter (UHC) brilliantly lifted out all the nebulae objects against the star field (26arc min). NGC 2020 is seen beautifully as an object in own right.

At 290x, NGC 2020 had a strong dense look which add depth to it as a whole. The surface looks slightly molted, uneven around the edge and not so round in figure any more. The igniting star is seen with averted vision (starlight fainter with filter use) as well as star GSC 9162 292 embedded at the south edge of the nebula. The northern part of the nebula is slightly brighter, and shade softer out into the field of view. The southern part between the igniting star and star GSC 9162 292, is less dense. (This impression could be star GSC 9162 292 on the south edge of the nebula, gives off light in the area between the two stars?) Star GSC 9162 292 slightly defines the south edge of the nebula.

NGC 2032 and NGC 2035 much more outstanding and extends in nebulosity, almost put the objects imbedded in a cloud of mistiness. NGC 2040 is much more hazy, although still very faint. NGC 2011 appears lovely and bright around star GSC 9162 156, somewhat brighter and more extended to the north. NGC 2029 could be the extended area to the NW of NGC 2032 but nothing outstanding and hardly seen..

The best view overall is by far with the UHC filter at 290x for each object in this field of view.