William Herschel discovered NGC 136 = H VI-35 on 26 Nov 1788 (sweep 887) and described a "a small cluster of vF, exceedingly compressed stars about 1' diam. The next step to an easily resolvable nebula." He considered this cluster a miniature globular.

300/350mm - 13.1" (10/20/84): 5 or 6 very faint stars 13/14 over haze. Appears similar to a small, faint gc with no strong concentration.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/16/93): 7-8 faint stars mag 14 resolved in very tight, compact group of 1.5' diameter, over background haze. A few additional stars trail to the SE so there are about 10 stars in the group. Located 6' NE of mag 8.3 SAO 11238.

600/800mm - 24" (1/4/14): ~10 faint stars are resolved in a small, circular patch ~1' diameter, over unresolved haze. A small detached group to the southeast increases the total to 15 stars and the size to 2'. Most of the resolved stars are mag 14-15. Located ~6' NE of mag 8.5 SAO 11238. Observed with a 4 day moon up, so it wasn't dark.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb