William Herschel discovered NGC 2532 = H II-726 = h489 on 5 Feb 1788 (sweep 807) and remarked "pF, pL, iR, lbM, resolvable, south of 2 stars that are nearly in the parallel." His position (Auwers' reduction) is just off the southeast side of the halo. This galaxy was observed 13 times at Birr Castle and an arm was suspected several times on the south side. Also a companion close north was sketched (not in GC or NGC), but this is probably a very faint star.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/28/92): fairly faint, moderately large, 1.5', slightly elongated NW-SE, gradually brightens towards the center, faint stellar nucleus, slightly mottled appearance. A mag 12 star 1.6' NNE is within a collinear string of six mag 11/12 stars oriented WNW-ESE running through the 20' field and a mag 11.5 star is 2.6' SSW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb