Hind's Variable Nebula Bright

[Whitters]

Reports from the USA (Tom Polakis and S. Kent Blackwell) say that Hind's variable nebula (NGC1555) has brightened considerably and is currently visible in a 10-inch telescope.  Although it has always been possible to image this nebula in a reasonable sized instrument, it has for many years been an extremely difficult visual target requiring telescopes in the 20 to 30-inch range along very good skies.

NGC1555 is located in Taurus at RA 4h 21.8m, Dec +19d 32m (2000.0).  Because it has two bright components with a darker neck in between, it was originally thought to be two objects  and given two NGC numbers NGC1555 and 1554.  It was discovered by John Russell Hind in 1852, using a 7-inch refractor from London.  He also discovered the variable star, T Tauri associated with the nebula, although variations in this star's brightness do not seem to directly correlate with variations in the nebula's brightness.

Hind's variable nebula is a small 30 arcsec comet shaped area of faint nebulosity lying just to the west of T Tauri.  It is predominately a reflection nebula and therefore nebula filters will be of little use.
Variations in brightness are usually associated with subtle changes in shape or size of the nebula, or in the brightness distribution over the nebula.
If the US reports are correct, this is an ideal opportunity to observe a normally difficult and greatly under observed object.  Please send all observations to the Director, along with full details of instrumentation and observing conditions.  Regular observations over the next few months, to closely monitor any changes, would be particularly useful.

Stewart Moore, Director Deep Sky Section

[Rick]

Could be a target worth tracking, particularly if you can get images that show change over time....