John Herschel discovered NGC 1853 = h2779 on 4 Dec 1834 and logged "F; S; mE; pos 45? n f to s p. Has a *11 mag north." His position (measured on 3 sweeps) and description matches ESO 158-022 = PGC 16911. RNGC labels this object as an "unverified southern object".

300/350mm - 14" (4/7/16 - Coonabarabran, 145x and 178x): moderately bright and large, elongated ~5:2 SW-NE, 1.25'x0.5', slightly brighter core, brighter along the major axis. A mag 12 star is 1.6' NE of center, collinear with the major axis. Located 4.5' SSW of mag 9.6 HD 34231 and 8.7' SW of mag 9.7 HD 34314.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb