Heinrich d'Arrest discovered NGC 1085 on 26 Sep 1865 with an 11" refractor at Copenhagen. His position is accurate and he further noted the nebula was between two mag 11-12 stars - one preceding by 14.5 seconds [4' SW] and the other following by 18.5 seconds [4.6' E].

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/28/94): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 N-S, 1.2'x0.8', gradually increases to a small bright core. Forms the east vertex of an equilateral triangle with two mag 10.5/12.5 stars 4' SW and NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb