William Herschel discovered NGC 1985 = H III-865 = h359 on 13 Nov 1790 (sweep 980) and recorded "vF, vS, R, bM. 300 showed it very plainly." His position was 2.5' too far NW, though JH measured on accurate position. R.J. Mitchell, observing on 28 Dec 1856 with Lord Rosse's 72", remarked "Looks like a star enveloped in a vF nebulous atmosphere which is lE nearly preceding-following."

This reflection nebula was misclassified as a PN (PK 176+00.1) in Kohoutek's Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae and the RNGC repeats this error.

300/350mm - 13.1" (1/18/85): faint reflection nebulosity surrounding a mag 13.5 star. This small, circular nebula is visible without a filter.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb