John Herschel discovered NGC 1079 = h2494 on 14 Nov 1835 and logged "B, pmE, sbM, 90" long, 40" broad". His position is accurate.
300/350mm - 13.1" (10/10/86): moderately bright, fairly large, elongated 2:1 E-W, bright core, faint stellar nucleus, faint elongated halo.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb