William Herschel discovered NGC 2372 = H II-317 = h445, along with NGC 2371, on 12 Mar 1785 (sweep 385). See NGC 2371 for his description.

300/350mm - 13" this is the fainter NE component of NGC 2371/NGC 2372. Slightly fainter and more diffuse than NGC 2371.

400/500mm - 17.5" see description for NGC 2371.

600/800mm - 24" (4/13/18): at 220x and NPB filter; the detached NW outer wing (1' from center) was faint but not difficult as an extended strip of nebulosity ~30"x10", oriented SSW-NNE. A mag 13.8 star is outside the wing to the west [1.5' from center]. The slightly fainter trailing wing required averted vision to glimpse, but is symmetrically placed 1' SE of center and well detached from the central bi-polar body.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/1/11): see description for NGC 2371.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb