John Herschel discovered NGC 2049 = h2921 on 28 Jan 1835 and recorded "vF; S; R; pslbM; 25." His position (measured on two sweeps) matches ESO 424-011 = PGC 17657.
400/500mm - 17.5" (12/8/90): fairly faint, small, oval 3:2 NNW-SSE, bright core.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb