William Herschel discovered NGC 214 = H II-209 = h47 on 10 Sep 1784 (sweep 264) and recorded "vF, pL, iR, equally bright, r." R.J. Mitchell (LdR's assistant) observed the field on 3 Nov 1855 and noted, "I find 3 neb, perhaps 4, as in annexed sketch. A is oval, and I think resolvable; and has a star at np edge." Mitchell goes on to describe 1 or 2 additional nebulae in the field, but these are either stars or close doubles.

300/350mm - 13.1" (10/20/84): moderately bright, slightly elongated SW-NE, brighter core, faint stellar nucleus.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb