William Herschel discovered NGC 1320 = H III-197 = h298 = h2530, along with NGC 1321, on 20 Sep 1784 (sweep 280) and reported "Two. Both eF, verified with 240 power but with 157x I had but a very distant suspicion of them." John Herschel observed made observations from both Slough, England as well as the Cape of Good Hope.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/25/87): fairly faint, small, elongated NW-SE, moderate concentration, small bright core, faint halo. First of four in the field and forms a close pair with NGC 1321 1.7' N.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb