?douard Stephan discovered NGC 1280 = St XII-25 on 19 Dec 1881 with the 31" reflector at Marseille Observatory, recording "vF, vS, R, gbM, seems resolvable". His position is accurate.
400/500mm - 17.5" (10/24/87): faint, small, round, weak concentration.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb