William Herschel discovered NGC 1377 = H II-961 = h2560 on 19 Dec 1799 (sweep 1091) and noted "vF, vS." JH made two observations from the Cape of Good Hope, recording it as "F, S, R, bM, 15 arcsec."

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/9/01): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 2:1 E-W, bright core, 1.2'x0.6'. Located 11' W of mag 9.5 SAO 168686. Located one degree NE of 19 (Tau 5) Eridani. Member of large LGG 97 group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb