Heinrich d'Arrest discovered NGC 1973 on 16 Dec 1862 within NGC 1977. He calls it a nebulous mag 8-9 star and his single position corresponds with HD 36958 = SAO 132302 = KX Ori.

300/350mm - 13.1" bright reflection nebulosity surrounding 7th magnitude SAO 132302. See NGC 1977.

600/800mm - 24" (1/22/15): locally bright (reflection?) nebula surrounding mag 6.9 HD 36958, embedded within the much larger NGC 1977 complex. Extends ~4' diameter in a circular glow, though the perphery is not well defined. A fainter star 34" NNE is involved in the nebula and at moments seemed to be encased in its own small halo. NGC 1975 is 4.4' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb