Albert Marth discovered NGC 2556 = m 117 on 17 Feb 1865 and noted "vF, vS." His position is 2' north of CGCG 119-045, the same offset error he made with NGC 2553.

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/1/92): very faint, very small, round. A pair of mag 13/14 stars are 1.3' S and 1.7' S. NGC 2560 lies 12' WNW and NGC 2553 21' W. Located near the center of the Cancer I galaxy cluster.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb