John Herschel discovered NGC 2559 = h3118 on 5 Feb 1837 and recorded "pL, F, glbM, in a field of about 60 stars; one of which = 9th mag, and some others also of less magnitudes are involved." His position is just off the east side of ESO 494-041 = PGC 23222.

Pietro Baracchi, observing with the 48" Melbourne telescope in Jan 1886, called it "vF; S; R; vg vvlbM; irregular. Amidst a multitude of stars."

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/8/91): moderately bright, moderately large, oval 3:2 N-S. Unusual appearance as nestled between four stars in a rich Milky Way field! Slight concentration but no core. The brightest of four nearby stars is mag 9.5 SAO 175514 at the east side, 40" from the center. Located just 4.5 degrees from the galactic equator!

Notes by Steve Gottlieb