John Herschel discovered NGC 1658 = h2658 (along with NGC 1660 = h2659) on 1 Dec 1837 and logged "F, pmE, glbM, 40"." His position is 1.6' too far south (similar offset with nearby NGC 1660).

400/500mm - 18" (1/17/09): picked up at 175x as a very faint glow, ~40"x25", extended NW-SE with careful viewing, low even surface brightness. Forms a 3' pair with fainter NGC 1660 to the SE. Located 5' NE of mag 10 HD 30203 and 45' NE of mag 4.5 Alpha Caeli. Viewed at a very low elevation from Lake Sonoma.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb