John Herschel discovered NGC 25 = h2309 on 28 Oct 1834 and recorded as "F; R; 30" across." His position matches ESO 149-019 = PGC 706.

600/800mm - 30" (11/4/10 - Coonabarabran, 264x): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 3:2 E-W, 0.8'x0.5', fairly well concentrated with a brighter core. Flanked by a mag 15 star 0.6' NE and a similar star 1' S. Located 2.7' SE of a mag 10.5 star. NGC 28 lies 4' NE, NGC 31 5.7' ENE, 2MASX J00101851-5700419 2.5' ENE and Fairall 1 3.0' SSE. NGC 25 is a member of AGC 2731 (distance ~420 million l.y.) and the first (SW end) in a distinctive string of galaxies oriented WSW-ENE that includes four NGCs. A total of 9 members were logged in the cluster.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb