John Herschel discovered NGC 1387 = h2564 on 25 Dec 1835 and described a "globular cluster, vB, R, gmbM, 90 arcseconds, A globular cluster in all probability identical with this, was also seen in Sweep 636, while searching beyond the meridian for Dunlop 562." His position is accurate. He also described a few other galaxies in the Fornax cluster as globulars (NGCs 1310, 1379, 1399 and 1436). In 1915 Knox-Shaw reported it was similar to 1380 and 1399 "and probably a nebula", based on a photograph as well as a visual observation with the 30-inch Reynolds reflector at the Helwan Observatory.

200/250mm - 8" (10/13/81): faint, small, round, broad concentration.

300/350mm - 13.1" (12/22/84): moderately bright, small, round, possible faint stellar nucleus. Member of Fornax I cluster. NGC 1381 lies 14' NNW and NGC 1379 11.5' WNW.

400/500mm - 18" (12/17/11): at 285x appeared bright to very bright, fairly large, round, 2' diameter. Sharply concentrated with a very bright 25"-30" core that increases to a stellar or quasi-stellar nucleus. Bracketed at low power by NGC 1379 11.5' WNW and NGC 1399 19' ENE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb