William Herschel discovered NGC 2182 = H IV-38 = h381 on 24 Feb 1786 (sweep 529) and described "a considerable star very faintly affected with milky chevelure, the milkiness not far from the parallel." A second observation (also with an accurate position), was made on 28 Nov 1786 (sweep 640), although Sherburne Burnham (Publ of Lick Observatory, II) incorrectly stated the RA should be 1 min larger.

Both Joseph Turner (Jan 1879) and Pietro Baracchi (2 Jan 1886) were unsuccessful finding this bright reflection nebula using the 48-inch Melbourne Telescope, despite the coordinates being accurate in the GC.

300/350mm - 13.1" (1/28/84): faint, small, nebulosity surrounding mag 9.0 SAO 132895 using averted vision. Located 28' ENE of NGC 2170.

400/500mm - 18" (1/13/07): bright reflection nebula, round, ~2' diameter, surrounding 9.3 HD 42261. In a group of reflection nebula with NGC 2170 28' WSW and NGC 2183 20' ENE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb