William Herschel discovered NGC 2385 = H III-900 = h447, along with NGC 2388, on 4 Feb 1793 (sweep 1031) and called "I suspected another a little south preceding [of NGC 2389] and 300 confirmed it; and a third almost directly preceding [NGC 2385], and 300 confirms that also. I saw all the three very plainly."

300/350mm - 13.1" (2/23/85): extremely faint, very small, possibly elongated. Located 5' W of NGC 2388. Fourth of seven in the NGC 2389 group.

400/500mm - 18" (1/13/07): faintest of trio with NGC 2389 7.7' ENE and NGC 2388 5.4' ESE. At 280x appears faint, small, oval, 0.4'x0.3', low even surface brightness.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb