James Dunlop probably discovered NGC 1874 = h2803 = D 122? and described "a small nebula, about 20" diameter, with three smaller nebulae following, and three pretty bright small stars on the north side". His position of 14' due south of the NGC 1874/1876/1877/1880 complex, so he probably saw several or all of these.

John Herschel independently discovered NGC 1874 = h2803 on 16 Dec 1835 and described as "the south preceding of two [with NGC 1876 = h2804], forming a binuclear nebula at the southern extremeity of an arc-formed cluster of stars." Also in this grouping are NGC 1877 and NGC 1880. Sketched on Plate III, figure 6 in his CGH observations. His position is accurate.

600/800mm - 24" (4/5/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the first in a complex of HII regions located ~4' due south of the bright cluster NGC 1872. At 200x and UHC filter, NGC 1874 appeared bright, round, ~1' diameter, even surface brightness. The nebulous glow is just slightly fainter than NGC 1876 which is just 1.3' NE. Without a filter a couple of mag 14 stars are involved within the glow.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb