William Herschel discovered NGC 128 = H II-854 = h25, along with NGC 125, on 25 Dec 1790 (sweep 985) and logged "pB, vS, R, vgmbM, pretty well defined on the margin". Using the 72" on 12 Dec 1874, Dreyer recorded "cE in PA 2.4°, mbM, probably sharp on f side, and a little curved, convex side f; two stars (or eS nebulous knots perhaps?) follow very near."

200/250mm - 8" (8/16/82): faint, small, elongated N-S.

300/350mm - 13.1" (11/5/83): fairly bright, fairly small, spindle N-S.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/8/88): moderately bright, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 N-S, bright core, stellar nucleus. Brightest in a group of five with two extremely close companions: NGC 127 0.8' NW and NGC 130 1.0' ENE. NGC 125 lies 6' WSW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb