William Herschel discovered NGC 2194 = H VI-5 on 11 Feb 1784 and described a "a cluster of very close stars. Rich and of large extent, i.e. about 7 or 8' or more." On 24 Dec 1786 (sweep 662) he recorded "a beautiful cluster of very compressed small stars of several sizes, gradually most compressed in the middle, irr R, 12 or 15' in diameter." In his 1814 PT paper he considered this as an example of a cluster in an advanced state of insulation, "not much differing from a globular figure."

Adolph Petersen independently found the cluster in 1849 but with a poor position. The position was accuratelly measured by d'Arrest on 18 Sep 1862 and by Vogel on 7 Dec 1869. Dreyer missed the equivalence with H. VI 5 and entered d'Arrest's observation as GC 5380 in his Supplement.

300/350mm - 13.1" (1/18/85): at least 50 stars in a 5' region including many mag 14/15 stars, very rich with averted. Includes a few brighter stars on the east edge.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb