Discovered by Johann Elert Bode on December 31, 1774.
Independently discovered by Johann Gottfried Koehler 1772-1778.
Independently rediscovered by Pierre Méchain in August 1779.
[SP2 p. 659]
1801, Nov. 8 (Sw. 1100). eB. m.E. spnf. [extremly bright, much extended south
preceding (SW) to north following (NE)], about 10' long.
1802, Sept. 30 (Sw. 1112). A vB. [very bright], beautiful ray of light,
brightest in the middle of all the length, about 8' long, 2 or 3' broad. (*)
(*) Dreyer's note: Entered the Cape Observations, p. 128, as a new
nebula, IV.79. [John Herschel's error - hf]
1810, Nov. 26, Review. Viewed with the large 10 feet. It is mottled in its
length as acontaining 5 or 6 vS. [very small (faint)] stars affected with
nebulosity. With No. I about 1/5 of the field or less, about 6 or 7' in
length; the breadth is about 1 1/2 or 1 3/4, the object is too low.
Last Modification: October 21, 2005