John Herschel discovered NGC 1246 = h2513 on 2 Nov 1834 and noted "pF, R, glbM, 15 arcseconds." His position is accurate (2 observations).

600/800mm - 24" (4/5/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): moderately bright and large oval 3:2 SW-NE, ~1.2'x0.8'. Contains a large bright core that increases to a faint, stellar nucleus with a much fainter outer halo. Located 10' SSE of NGC 1244. Three mag 10-11 stars lie midway between NGC 1246 and NGC 1244.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb