William Herschel discovered NGC 1161 = H II-239 = h277, along with NGC 1160, on 7 Oct 1784 (during sweeps 281-285, carried out in the east), and reported "The 2nd of 2; pB; pS; resolvable." On 11 Dec 1786 (sweep 645) he noted "F, E, about 1 1/2' long." This pair was observed at Birr Castle on 4 nights.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/24/87): fairly bright, fairly small, oval 3:2 SW-NE, bright core, stellar nucleus. Two bright stars are close west; a mag 10 star is 45" W and mag 9 SAO 38510 is 1.2' SW. Also collinear with two mag 11 stars 1.5' E and 3' ENE. Forms a pair with NGC 1160 3.5' N. The pair lies in the Local Void, less than half the distance to the Perseus cluster (AGC 426).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb