John Herschel discovered NGC 2177 = h3020 on 13 Dec 1835 and recorded "F; R; lbM; 15"." On a second sweep he noted "pF; irreg R; resolvable." His mean position matches this cluster.

300/350mm - 14" (4/3/16 - Coonabarabran, 178x): moderately bright, fairly small, round, 30" diameter, fairly even surface brightness, no resolution. Located 8' NNW of mag 9.3 HD 41802 and 11' NE of mag 9.4 HD 41443. Three additional mag 10 stars are in the field to the north and east. NGC 2166 lies 16' SW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb