Frank Muller discovered NGC 142 = LM 2-282 (along with NGCs 143 and 144) in 1886 using the 26" refractor at the Leander McCormick Observatory. His rough position is OK and his note of a double star 0.5' N pins down the identification. Herbert Howe measured an accurate position in 1899-00 using the 20" refractor at Chamberlin Observatory (repeated in the IC 2 notes).

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/8/88): first of three with NGC 143 and NGC 144. Faint, small, round, very weak concentration. A mag 14/14.5 double star at 20" separation is off the NNW edge. NGC 143 lies 3' NNE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb