John Herschel discovered NGC 145 = h27 = h2328 on 9 Oct 1828 and recorded "vF; vlE; glbM, 60" long." His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/17/88): fairly faint, moderately large, oval ~E-W, small bright core. Located 6' WNW of mag 8.7 SAO 128813. This star is situated within a string oriented SW-NE with a mag 10 star 7' SSE of NGC 145 forming the southwest end of this string. The northeast end of the string intersects a shorter line of four mag 11-12 stars.

900/1200mm - 48" (11/8/15): at 375x and 488x; fascinating irregular spiral galaxy. A bright bar extends 30" N-S. A spiral arm is attached at the north end of the bar and is easily visible extending to the west, and curling clockwise. The arm has a fairly high contrast and definition. A small HII knot (~8" diameter) is nearly attached to the north end of the bar where the spiral arm begins. A fainter, low contrast arm is attached at the south end of bar and extends 30" due east.

Two companions were picked up. PGC 1048844 is 3.1' NE. At 488x it appeared fairly faint (V = 16.0), small, roundish, 15" diameter. PGC 1048201 (not catalogued in Megastar) appeared faint (V = 17.1), very small, round, 12" diameter.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb