William Herschel discovered NGC 2481 = H II-302 = h473 on 28 Feb 1785 (sweep 374) and called it "pF, vS, bM, easily resolvable." On 20 Feb 1787 (sweep 697) he noted "F, pL, irr elongated." UGC has a typo and calls this galaxy NGC 2482.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/20/88): moderately bright, fairly small, edge-on 4:1 SW-NE, bright core, stellar nucleus. Forms a close pair with NGC 2480 1' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb