George Johnstone Stoney, Lord Rosse's assistant, discovered NGC 258 on 22 Dec 1848. This was his first discovery and he noted "3 nebulae in line, 2 of them novae." The field was observed no less than 7 times at Birr Castle, though the descriptions are sometimes contradictory and made under poor conditions. Stoney probably also discovered NGC 260 to the northeast (the 3rd nebulae), and it was also seen in 1854, though d'Arrest was credited with the discovery in the NGC.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/17/87): extremely faint and small, round. A mag 11 star is close WSW 40" from center. Second of three with NGC 252 3.2' SW and NGC 260 5.3' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb