William Herschel discovered NGC 2353 = H VIII-34 on 10 Jan 1785 (sweep 356) and noted "an extensive scattered cluster contains a very bright star."

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/20/93): over 100 stars mag 6-13 in a 20' diameter, requires 100x (20mm Nagler) for best view. Richest around mag 6 SAO 152598 on the south side where 50 stars are in a 8' rectangular outline. A bright double star ∑1052 = 9.1/9.3 at 20" is located just 2' NE of the mag 6 star and two mag 9 stars are at the NW and NE corners of this subgroup. Surrounding this group is a dark ring devoid of stars and then beyond is a fairly rich outer annulus including several mag 9-10 stars.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb