NGC 178 is a Magellanic spiral galaxy in the constellation of Cetus. The compiler of the New General Catalogue, John Louis Emil Dreyer noted that NGC 178 was "faint, small, much extended 0°, brighter middle". It was discovered on November 3, 1885 by Ormond Stone.Due to its high rate of star formation NGC 178 is a starburst galaxy. It is forming new stars at a rate of 0.55 M☉ per year. The peculiar morphology of this galaxy may be a sign of it being a galaxy merger.

300/350mm - 13.1" (8/24/84): fairly faint, fairly small, weak concentration, elongated 2:1 N-S, lies 27' SW of NGC 210.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/6/93): moderately bright, fairly large, elongated 5:2 N-S, 1.8'x0.8', broad low concentration but no nucleus. NGC 207 is in the field 9' ESE and NGC 210 lies 27' NE.

600/800mm - 24" (9/30/16): at 282x; fairly bright, fairly large, elongated 5:2 N-S, ~1.5'x0.6'. Appears mottled along the major axis with a brighter knot or region at the north end [HST image reveals this is a giant star-forming region]. The galaxy appears to spread or bulge out with a faint extension on the southwest side [the HST image shows this is a series of HII/star-forming clumps]. This highly disrupted galaxy lies 8' NE of mag 9.0 HD 3579. Brightest in a trio with NGC 207 8.7' SE and IC 41 7.8' E.