John Herschel discovered NGC 1820 = h2754 on 2 Jan 1837 and described a "pL, rich, 6th class cluster, irregular figure, in radiating streaks. Place that of a star 10th mag (one of 3 such). It is within this cluster that the two nebulae [NGC 1814 & NGC 1816] occur."

600/800mm - 24" (11/18/12 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): this star cloud or association (LH 19) in the LMC appears as a very large, irregular group of approximately two dozen stars mag 10-15, roughly 9'x5' and extended N-S. Includes five stars mag 12 or brighter, along with two brighter "knots" (NGC 1814 and 1816) on the west side as well as containing some irregular nebulosity (LHa120-N17).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb