William Herschel discovered NGC 2023 = H IV-24 on 6 Jan 1785 (sweep 352) and described in his 1791 paper "On Nebulous Stars" as "A bright star with a very considerably milky chevelure; a little extended, 4 or 5' in length, and near 4' broad; it loses itself insensibly. I suspected some extensive milky windings in the neighborhood but could not verify them; other stars of equal magnitude are perfectly free from this chevelure." He later noted "The connection between the star and the chevelure cannot be doubted, from the insensible gradation of its luminous appearance, decreasing as it receded from the centre."

200/250mm - 8" moderately bright, surrounds a mag 8 star.

300/350mm - 13.1" fairly prominent nebulosity surrounds mag 7.8 SAO 132464. The Horsehead nebula lies 15' SW.

600/800mm - 24" (1/1/19): at 200x; very bright, very large, irregular glow surrounding mag 7.8 HD 37903, ~7' diameter, ragged periphery, high surface brightness! The reflection nebula has a fairly well defined border on the west side. A superimposed mag 12.5 star is 2.4' ESE and there is a bite or divot into the nebulosity around this star. Very low surface brightness glow, though, is evident extending further SE and E of this star.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb