25x80mm finder (3/2/08): A chain of stars extends north from M47 to this obvious glow with a few resolved stars superimposed.

15x50 IS binoculars (1/15/07): visible about 40' N of M47 in binoculars as a faint glow with the brighter mag 9 and 10 stars resolved.

William Herschel discovered NGC 2423 = H VII-28 = h3090 on 19 Mar 1786 (sweep 540) and noted "a cluster of pS stars, pretty rich, 15' diameter." His position is accurate. JH observed the cluster from the Cape of Good Hope and recorded "a very large, rich fine cluster of small stars which nearly fills the field. Place that of a double star, class II."

300/350mm - 13.1" (1/28/84): about 50 stars in 15' field. Fairly rich in faint stars. A mag 9 double star is near the center. The primary, itself, is a very close pair (RST 3532 = 9.6/10.2 at 0.5"). Located 37' N of M47.

400/500mm - 18" (3/2/08): at 175x, ~100 stars are resolved in a 18' region with an excellent double at the center (h3983 = 9.1/9.7 at 8"). The stars are pretty evenly distributed with no rich subgroups though with several doubles and small groupings.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb