John Herschel discovered NGC 1989 = h2871 on 28 Jan 1835 and recorded "eeF; S; R; south of several bright stars." On a second sweep he noted "vF; S; R at the apex of a converging parcel of distant stars." His position (measured on 3 sweeps) is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/3/88): faint, very small, slightly elongated, broad concentration. Situated at the vertex of two converging rows stars including mag 9.6 SAO 19574 3' NNE and mag 9.4 SAO 195974 5.5' NNE. Forms a pair with NGC 1992 6' SSE and brightest in cluster ACO S536 (distance ~500 million l.y.).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb