John Herschel discovered NGC 2501 = h3108 on 14 Feb 1836 and recorded "F, R, gbM, 30", in a field full of stars." On a later sweep he called it "pF, lE, in parallel; glbM, 25"." His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/8/91): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated ~E-W, bright core, stands out well in rich Milky Way field. Situated only 8° from the galactic equator.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb