William Herschel discovered NGC 1242 = H III-591 on 15 Dec 1786 (sweep 650) and recorded "Two [along with NGC 1241], that of which the place is taken NGC 1241] is F, pL, vgvmbM, R. The other [NGC 1242] is about 1' nf, eF, stellar. A 3rd suspected sf the 1st, still fainter than the 2nd; the I did not see it well enough to verify it, and it may be a deception." Bindon Stoney, using LdR's 72" on Dec 7 1850, assumed it was a new discovery (labeled as "Beta" in his sketch). Dreyer later noticed the equivalence with III-591 when he examined the field on 6 Nov 1877 as the observing assistant at Birr Castle.

300/350mm - 13.1" (12/7/85): very faint, small, round, small bright core, stellar nucleus, can hold with averted vision. Forms a close pair with much brighter NGC 1241 1.6' SW. Located 2.1' SE of mag 9.0 SAO 130329.

600/800mm - 24" (12/28/13): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:3 NW-SE, ~35"x21", weak concentration. Forms a pair (Arp 304 = VV 334) with brighter NGC 1241 1.7' SE. A bright mag 9.3 star lies 2' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb