---
title: "NGC 2023"
url: "https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-2023"
release: "DR1"
licence: "CC-BY-SA-4.0"
citation: "SpaceCatalog. NGC 2023 [catalogue entry]. Data release DR1 (2026-08-21). https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-2023"
---

# NGC 2023

NGC 2023 is a reflection [nebula](https://spacecatalog.org/nebulae) in the constellation [Orion](https://spacecatalog.org/constellation/orion). Other catalogues list it as BD -02 1345, HD 37903 and HIP 26816, among 6 designations in total. It was discovered in 1785.

## At a glance

- **WHAT IT IS:** Reflection nebula
- **HOW BIG ON THE SKY:** 10.0′ — About 0.3 of the full Moon's width.
- **WHERE TO LOOK:** [Orion](https://spacecatalog.org/constellation/orion) — The patch of sky it sits in, as seen from Earth.

## Properties

| Quantity | Value |
| --- | --- |
| CLASS | Reflection nebula |
| CONSTELLATION | Orion |
| RIGHT ASCENSION (J2000) | 05h 41m 38.4s |
| DECLINATION (J2000) | −02° 15′ 32.5″ |
| DISCOVERED | 1785 |

## Catalogue data

### WHERE IT IS AND HOW IT MOVES

Position, motion across the sky and the size it covers on it. These are measurements of the object as seen from here, so every one of them depends on where here is.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Major axis | 10′ |
| Minor axis | 8′ |

### WHEN IT WAS FOUND

Who first saw it, from where, and by what method.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Discovered by | William Herschel |

### OTHER NAMES AND NUMBERS

The identifiers other catalogues file this object under, for anyone joining this data to theirs.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| OpenNGC type code | RfN |
| Wikidata item | Q1046506 |
| Wikipedia article | NGC 2023 |

## Also known as

- BD: BD -02 1345
- HD: HD 37903
- HIP: HIP 26816
- IRAS: IRAS 05391-0217
- LBN: LBN 954
- NGC: NGC 2023

## Source

[OpenNGC](https://github.com/mattiaverga/OpenNGC) — CC-BY-SA-4.0

The producer asks: OpenNGC, Mattia Verga (github.com/mattiaverga/OpenNGC). Fields derived from it stay under CC BY-SA 4.0.

How this was made: https://spacecatalog.org/methods#source-openngc

## Cite this page

SpaceCatalog. NGC 2023 \[catalogue entry\]. Data release DR1 (2026-08-21). https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-2023

```bibtex
@misc{spacecatalog_ngc-2023,
  author       = {{SpaceCatalog}},
  title        = {{NGC 2023}},
  howpublished = {SpaceCatalog, data release DR1 (2026-08-21)},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-2023},
  note         = {Catalogue entry, data release DR1 (2026-08-21). Values from OpenNGC.}
}
```

OpenNGC — CC-BY-SA-4.0

Acknowledgement the producer asks for: OpenNGC, Mattia Verga (github.com/mattiaverga/OpenNGC). Fields derived from it stay under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The page itself, with its pictures, the sky map and the observing tools: https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-2023