William Herschel discovered NGC 1172 = H II-502 = h280 on 30 Dec 1785 (sweep 499) and logged "F, eS, stellar, preceding a pB star. 240 verified it." The "pB star" is 2' NE. On 15 Oct 1830 (sweep 307), John Herschel called this object "pB; pL; R; psbM; 40" diameter."

300/350mm - 13.1" (1/18/85): faint, small, round, broad concentration. Located 2.1' SW of mag 9.6 SAO 148719.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb