William Herschel discovered NGC 1421 = H II-291 = h2577 on 1 Feb 1785 (sweep 364) and noted "pF, mE in the direction of the meridian, between 3 and 4' l and about 1' broad, resolvable." JH observed this galaxy on 8 Dec 1835 and recorded "F, vmE, vlbM, 3' l, 20" br; pos. = 184.2 degrees." Dreyer and Lord Rosse made a detailed observation with the 72" on 14 Oct 1876: "F, mE 178.7?, about 4' long; F* (17m +/- ) p near the on end, 38.7" distant, the brighter part of the neb seems abruptly terminated just foll the star, towards which it also appears curved; eF* or knot in neb foll the *17m."

200/250mm - 8" (11/28/81): very faint, moderately large, elongated N-S. A distinctive 6.5' collinear string consisting of four stars mag 10-12 oriented NW-SE begins 8' S.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/2/91): fairly bright, fairly large, very elongated 4:1 N-S, 3.0'x0.7', broad weak concentration, fades towards tips. The surface brightness has a patchy or mottled appearance. The southern tip is slightly fainter than the northern edge. A mag 13 star is 2.8' NE of center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb