William Herschel discovered NGC 2283 = H III-271 on 6 Feb 1785 (sweep 367) and reported "3 or 4 small stars with vF nebulosity between them forming an irregular triangle. 240 power showed the same very plainly." Auwers made an error reducing WH's position, but JH corrected the error in the GC and his position matches ESO 557-013 = PGC 19562. Herbert Howe, observing in 1898-1899 with the 20" refractor at the Chamberlin Observatory in Denver, described "a small quadrilateral of stars of mag 11, 12, 11, and 13, the interior of which in nearly filled by an eF nebulosity."

Harold Corwin comments that E.E. Barnard's IC 2171 may be a duplicate observation (see his identification notes on that number). Dave Riddle notes Sven Cederblad catalogued this galaxy as a reflection nebula (Ced 86) and it was later included in the Dorschner and Gurtler reflection nebula catalogue as DG 111.

300/350mm - 13.1" (11/5/83): very faint, small, diffuse, even surface brightness. Three faint stars are involved including two mag 13 stars at the NE edge and the north edge. Located in a rich star field 90' S of Sirius and just 9° from the galactic equator!

Notes by Steve Gottlieb