Apparent size 1.0 arcmin.

Apparent size 1.9 arcmin.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 1952 (= GC 1157 = JH 357, Bevis 1731, M1, 1860 RA 05 26 06, NPD 68 05.0) is "very bright, very large, extended 135°±, very gradually a little brighter middle, mottled but not resolved". The position precesses to RA 05 34 31.1, Dec +22 01 03, right on the nebula listed above and the description fits, so the identification is certain.
Discovery Notes: Discovered by Messier while searching for the "comet of 1758" (Halley's Comet). Previously found by Bevis about 1731, whose prior discovery was acknowledged by Messier after receiving a letter from Bevis (on Jun 10, 1771) pointing out its resulting presence in the English Celestial Atlas. Messier's decision to create a list of nebulae that could be confused with comets began with this object, and proved a particularly good idea in this case, as it was also confused with Halley's Comet on its following return (in 1835).
Physical Information: Apparent size 6 by 4 arcmin. The Crab Nebula is the remnant of the daylight supernova of 1054 AD. In the millennium since its formation the nebula has expanded to a diameter of 10 light-years, with an average velocity of expansion of 1/2 % of the speed of light (about a thousand miles per second). The radiation of the nebula is caused by synchrotron radiation emitted by the millisecond pulsar at its center -- a neutron star rotating 30 times per second. (More images and discussion to follow in the next iteration of this page)

Apparent size 4.2 by 2.0 arcmin. A physical pair with NGC 1957.

Apparent size 1.8 arcmin.

Apparent size 1.9 by 0.8 arcmin. The second IC adds (per DeLisle Stewart) "very faint, hazy star involved in nebula".

Apparent size 1.1 by 0.8 arcmin.

Apparent size 0.5 arcmin.

(Note: See the discussion of Hodierna for an explanation of why he was not credited with the discovery of this object.) Apparent size 10 arcmin.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 1961 (= GC 1167 = WH III 747, 1860 RA 05 27 11, NPD 20 36.0) is "considerably faint, pretty large, irregular figure, much brighter middle, extremely mottled but not resolved, star involved (questionable Polar Distance)".
Discovery Notes: Herschel's catalog lists the discovery date as Dec 3, 1787, but a comparison with the previous catalog page shows that the heading for the page in question is incorrect; so the actual date was Dec 3, 1788.
Physical Information: Based on a recessional velocity of 3935 km/sec, NGC 1961 is about 185 million light years away. Given that and the brighter central galaxy's apparent size of 4.1 by 2.2 arcmin, it spans about 220 thousand light years; while the 4.9 by 4.2 arcmin wide region that includes the very faint northern arms spans about 260 thousand light years.

Apparent size 0.5 arcmin.

Apparent size 14 arcmin.

The second IC notes (per Howe) "not very small, but large". Apparent size 5.6 by 1.8 arcmin.

Apparent size 13 by 13 arcmin.

Apparent size 0.4 arcmin.

Apparent size 1.1 arcmin.

Apparent size 0.8 arcmin. (Note to self: the NGC note is for 1970, not 1969; so ignore when adding historical info)

(Note to self: check out NGC note for 1970 when adding historical info)

Apparent size 0.8 arcmin.

Apparent size 0.9 arcmin.

Apparent size 5.0 by 5.0 arcmin.

Apparent size 1.7 arcmin.

Apparent size 10 by 5.0 arcmin.

Apparent size 40 by 35 arcmin.

Apparent size 20 arcmin.

Apparent size 3.9 arcmin.

The second IC lists a corrected RA (per Bigourdan) of 05 28 10. Apparent size 1.8 by 1.8 arcmin.

Historical Identification:
Discovery Notes: Herschel's published papers list the date of his first observation of WH V 31 as Jan 31, 1786, but according to Steinicke, he had actually observed it (presumably during studies of double stars) on Sep 20, 1783, as shown above.
Apparent size 14 by 14 arcmin, clustered around ί Ori.

Discovery Notes: Until October of 2016 it was thought that John Herschel was the first to observe this object; but per Steinicke, William Herschel had already observed the cluster (but not recorded it as such) during his early studies of double stars, whence the date of discovery shown above.
Apparent size 28 arcmin.

Apparent size 20 by 15 arcmin. A portion of the Orion nebula (NGC 1976) separated from the main portion by a dark lane.

Apparent size 0.68 arcmin.

Apparent size 0.7 arcmin.

Apparent size 1.7 arcmin.

Apparent size 1.4 by 1.1 arcmin.

Apparent size 50 by 10 arcmin.

(this entry will only contain historical information; for anything else see NGC 1974)

Apparent size 1.1 by 0.7 arcmin.

Apparent size 1.5 by 1.4 arcmin.

Apparent size 0.6 arcmin.

Apparent size 22 arcmin.

Apparent size 1.3 arcmin.

Apparent size 0.9 by 0.5 arcmin.

Apparent size 2.0 by 2.0 arcmin.