William Herschel discovered NGC 1308 = H II-568 on 30 Sep 1786 (sweep 608), recording "eF, S, iF. In the midst of 3 or 4 stars; the following thereof is the brightest." His position and description of the nearby stars is an exact match with MCG -01-09-032 = PGC 12643.

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/7/89): faint, small, round, weak concentration. Located within a small group of four stars including two mag 11 stars 1.5' E and 1.9' NNW, also a pair of mag 13.5 stars lie 2' WSW. These four stars form an isosceles trapezoid.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb