William Herschel discovered NGC 1439 = H III-249 = h2584 on 9 Dec 1784 (sweep 331) and recorded "vF, vS." JH made 3 observations from the CGH, first logging it as "pF, S, R, bM, 20" dia."

300/350mm - 13.1" (10/10/86): moderately bright, fairly small, bright core, stellar nucleus, round, large faint halo.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb