John Herschel discovered NGC 2153 = h3002 on 3 Jan 1837 and recoded "eeF; R or lE; attached to a * 16m." His position, from a single sweep, is accurate and the faint star appears to be at the south end.

300/350mm - 14" (4/3/16 - Coonabarabran, 178x): moderately bright, fairly small, round, 35"-40" diameter, smooth glow. A mag 14 star is easily resolved at the southwest edge. Located 8' SE of mag 8.2 HD 40924. A mag 10 star is 4' NNE. NGC 2153 happens to be situated just 16' NW of the south ecliptic pole, so its RA and Dec stay nearly constant.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb