William Herschel discovered NGC 2259 = H VI-28 on 11 Jan 1787 (sweep 682) and called "a cluster of extremely compressed and exceedintly S stars, considerably rich, irr F, the following and most compressed part of it round." His position (Auwer's reduction) is on the south side of the cluster.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/1/92): fairly faint, small, 3'-4' diameter, rich, irregularly round. Consists of about 15 faint stars mag 13.5-14.5 sparkling over a layer of background haze. A double star mag 12/13 at 7" separation is at the north edge. Mag 8.7 SAO 95930 is 5' W and is surrounded by a less compressed group of 15-20 stars mag 12/13 in a 6' triangular shape. This mag 8.7 star has two faint companions on the south side and another close faint double star is 3' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb