Ralph Copeland discovered NGC 2457 on 10 Mar 1874 with the 72" at Birr Castle during an observation of NGC 2456. He described (with respect to NGC 2456) "F, pL, R, Pos 54.8°, dist 339" [or 32.9s f, 195.4" n]. About 3' n of the nova there seemed to be another vF neb. Telescope now at the limit of its range." Copeland's micrometric offset matches CGCG 262-046 = PGC 22161 and 3' north there is a nebula -- MCG +09-13-089 = PGC 22172, which should have received an NGC designation.

MCG and PGC (as well as Megastar, etc) misidentify MCG +09-13-087 = PGC 22171 as NGC 2457. This galaxy is just 1.2' following the NGC 2457, though it was not seen by Copeland. See Corwin's identification comments.

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/19/91): extremely faint, very small, round, very low surface brightness. Forms a pair with NGC 2456 5' WSW. Two extremely faint companions 1.2' E and 3' NNE were not seen.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb