John Herschel discovered NGC 226 = h53 on 22 Nov 1827 and logged "eF; S; R; has a 13m to south, dist 20"." His position and description matches UGC 459 = PGC 2572. R.J. Mitchell (LdR assistant) recorded it on 19 Sep 1857 as "vF, S, R, bM, just on of a vF *."

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/1/02): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 ~E-W, 0.6'x0.45', very weak concentration. A mag 13.5 star is just off the south side, 30" from the center. Located 11' ESE of mag 8.5 HD 3925, which is just outside the 220x field.

17.5" (11/25/87): fairly faint, fairly small, irregularly round, bright core, irregular surface brightness. A mag 14 star is 30" S. Located 7' NE of mag 9.4 SAO 54094 and 10.5' ESE of mag 8.5 SAO 54088.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb