William Herschel discovered NGC 2402 = H III-19 = h453 on 11 Mar 1784 (sweep 163) and recorded "2 vS and close stars suspected to be mixed with some nebulosity, but not having a higher power at hand I could not put them to the trial. However I rather think it may be a fallacy." His position is 5' NE of UGC 3891 = PGC 21176. John Herschel observed this galaxy on 3 sweeps, logging on 18 Jan 1828 (sweep 120), "eF; among several stars 13...14m; one = 14m is in the nebula." My position is on the brighter southwest galaxy. See Harold Corwin's comments.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/25/87): faint, very small, round. A mag 14 star is at the east edge 22" from center. A chain of four stars begin with a mag 14 star 40" N and forms a line to the NW. Located 3' N of mag 8.8 SAO 115540. This is a double system in contact, though the fainter companion (PGC 200236) at the NE edge was not noticed.

600/800mm - 24" (2/16/15 and 2/14/15): at 322x; faint to fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, ~25"x20", weak concentration with a very small brighter nucleus. A mag 13.5-14 star is at the east-northeast edge [21" from center]. This star is the last of four in a northwest to southeast string with two mag 13 stars and a mag 11 star at the northwest end. Also, a fainter mag 14.5 star is superimposed on the north edge - just 10" from center!

Forms a double system with PGC 200236 at the northeast edge [30" from center]. At 450x, it was seen as a very faint round knot (not 100%, but often visible with concentration), roughly 6" diameter.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb