William Herschel discovered NGC 1977 = H V-30 on 18 Jan 1786 (sweep 510) and recorded "I returned to the c's Orionis [1 and 2 c Orionis], and the stars about them; and found them as suspected involved in very visible, and unequally bright milky nebulosity. I am pretty sure this joins to the great nebula [M42]." NGC 1977 is generally taken as the brightest portion around 42 and 45 Orionis, though Herschel's description really applies to the entire nebula and scattered group of stars.

300/350mm - 13.1" extensive bright field of nebulosity including NGC 1973 and NGC 1975, very large, elongated ~E-W. Involves several bright stars including 42 Orionis (V = 4.7) and 45 Orionis (V = 5.3). Irregular and detailed with detached segments. Extends north and south beyond 42 Orionis. Located north of M42 and south of the bright cluster NGC 1981.

600/800mm - 24" (1/22/15): NGC 1977 is a prominent 20' field of nebulosity involving 42 Ori (V = 4.6 and a challenging 1.2" pair), 45 Ori (V = 5.2) and mag 7.3 HD 37058 on the south side and NGC 1973 (KX Ori) and NGC 1975 (?746) in the northern half. The entire complex is irregularly luminous but locally brightest around these stars and dimmer in the central region. The southern portion is brighter and elongated E-W with an irregular outline. On the southeast side is an extension and the northeast section ends near a 30" unequal pair of stars. See NGC 1973 and NGC 1975 for separate descriptions.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb