William Herschel discovered NGC 180 = H III-876 on 29 Dec 1790 (sweep 991) and logged "vF, pL, iR, just S.f. a small star which is partly involved in the nebulosity." Auwers' reduction is 1° off in NPD. The NGC position is just 2' north of UGC 380 = PGC 2268.

300/350mm - 13.1" (12/7/85): faint, small, elongated NW-SE. A mag 10.5 star at the NW edge detracts from viewing.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/8/88): faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 NW-SE, bright core. A mag 11 star is at the NW edge 39" from the center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb