William Herschel discovered NGC 2331 = H VIII-40 = h432 on 11 Mar 1785 (sweep 384) and recorded "some clustering, large scattered stars; many of an equal size." John Herschel noted in on 17 Feb 1827 (sweep 57) as "a small cluster of 10 or a doze st 11...13m in an ellipse."

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/20/90): at 82x, very large scattered group of about 40 stars mag 10-14, 15' diameter. There is a small circle of 6 stars at the east end. The classification of this group as a true cluster is doubtful.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb