William Herschel discovered NGC 234 = H II-245 on 14 Oct 1784 (sweep 289) and logged "F, pS, irregular oval." On 16 Oct 1784 (sweep 295), he noted "F, pS, R, lbM." and again on 18 Sep 1786 (sweep 590), "pB, cL, gmbM." Dreyer made a detailed observation at Birr Castle on 8 Nov 1876: "pB, pL, iR, seems with higher power to have two points of condensation, p and f, the f. one the brighter. I think the p one is a S * involved. Lord Rosse thought it resolved." A mag 16.3 star is at the west edge and the following "point of condensation" probably refers to the nucleus. The NGC position is 2.5' too far south.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/8/88): moderately bright, moderately large, irregularly round, broad concentration, faint nucleus.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb