LHA 120-N 44H is a moderately bright but compact glow (~30" diameter) that is detached 2.3' N (part of the same complex). A star is involved unfiltered. The mag 10 star mentioned above is 1.1' ESE of this patch.

Solon Bailey discovered IC 2128 = D 176 photographically in 1896 using a 1-inch Cooke lens at the Arequipa station in Peru. The discovery was announced in the 1908 "Catalogue of Bright Clusters and Nebulae", Annals of Harvard Observatory, Vol 60, p199. Glen Cozins and Wolfgang Steinicke credit James Dunlop with discovery on 27 Oct 1826 with his 9" reflector from Parramatta, New South Wales. Dunlop noted D 176 as "a small faint nebula" and his position is close southeast of IC 2128.

SIMBAD classifies IC 2128 as an HII (ionized) region only and the position is ~2' NNE of the brightest emission region.

300/350mm - 14" (4/7/16 - Coonabarabran, 145x): Using an NPB filter, a bright compact patch ~30" diameter was prominently visible just 1' SW of a mag 10 star (HD 35978). Much fainter nebulosity spreads out to 1.5'. Three mag 13-14.5 stars are involved without the filter and a few more are further northwest. A mag 9.2 star (HD 35862) is 4.2' W and a mag 11 star is 2.1' NNE. The IC 2128 nebula (N44D) is located at the southeast end of the NGC 1929-1936 complex (N44) and is part of association LH 49.

600/800mm - 25" (4/3/19 - OzSky): Unfiltered, about a dozen stars are resolved (cluster S-L 429) over irregular hazy nebulosity, including 4 brighter stars mag 12.5-13 (two of these form a 15" pair). A mag 9.2 star (HD 35978), with an easy 15th mag companion, is just off the east side. Excellent contrast boost with a NPB filter; the nebulosity appeared extremely bright, very high surface brightness, irregular shape and internal structure. Quite striking!

N44K, ~2.5' W, appeared (using a NPB filter) fairly bright, fairly small, round, 40" diameter, brighter on the south edge.

N44H, located 3' N, appeared (unfiltered) surrounding a mag 14 star and a second much fainter star. Adding a NPB filter, the nebulosity appeared moderately bright, fairly small, round, 30" diameter. A mag 11.5 star is 1' SE.

N44E, located 4' NE, involves a mag 13 star along two mag 15+ stars. Adding a NPB filter boosts the visibility of the nebulosity and it appeared nearly fairly faint, roundish, ~30" diameter. A mag 13 star is close off the north edge.

N44L, just off the west side of N44E, was a very faint, small glow detached from N44E (using a NPB filter).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb