NGC 1980

NGC 1980 (also known as OCL 529, Collinder 72 and The Lost Jewel of Orion^[6]) is a young open cluster associated with an emission nebula in the constellation Orion. It was discovered by William Herschel on 31 January 1786.^[7] Its apparent size is 14 × 14 arc minutes and it is located around the star Iota Orionis on the southern tip of the Orion constellation.^[4][8]

NGC 1980
DSS image of the open cluster NGC 1980, located on the southern tip of the Orion Nebula, and the nebula NGC 1982 (M43) located on its northern edge
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
Right ascension	05h 25m 26.0s[1]
Declination	−05° 54′ 36″[1]
Distance	1793 ly[2] (550 pc[2])
Apparent magnitude (V)	2.5[3]
Apparent dimensions (V)	14.00 x 14.0[4]
Physical characteristics
Estimated age	4.7 million
Other designations	Lower Sword,[5] Collinder 72, OCL 529, WH V 31
Associations
Constellation	Orion
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

The Orion Nebula M42 with NGC 1980 on the right (right is south)

Herschel made his first observation of the cluster which was called WH V 31 on 31 January 1786, but he possibly observed it during his studies of double stars on 20 September 1783.^[7]