John Herschel discovered NGC 2117 = h2978 on 23 Nov 1834 and recorded (first of 5 sweeps) "pB, S, resolved." On a second sweep he recorded "pB, E; resolved. I see the stars in it; 2' long." On his third sweep he logged "pF, irregularly round, 40 or 50", vlbM."

600/800mm - 30" (10/13/15 - OzSky): bright, moderately large, irregular shape, 1' diameter. A mag 13.3 star is at the west edge, a mag 14 star is on the northeast side and a mag 14.8 star is at the southeast end. The central region is very mottled and lively with 8 additional mag 15+ stars resolving. Mag 9 HD 39371 lies 6' WNW. LHa 120-N74, a huge HII complex with two sections lies 20'-25' NNW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb