James Dunlop probably discovered NGC 261= D 4 = D 21? = h2349 with his 9" reflector on 5 Sep 1826. Dunlop 4 was described as a "faint round nebula, about 30" diameter" while D 21 was described as a "small round faint nebula." His position for D 21 is just 3' N of ESO 29-12.

John Herschel made 3 observations, first logging "very faint, round, gradually brighter in the middle, 2' across, resolvable." He next described it as "pretty bright, round, 60". Has a star 13th mag in centre. Occurs in a field illuminated by the Nubecular Minor and many stars." His final observation was "pretty faint, round, 90"." Herschel noted this could be either Dunlop 3, 4 or 21.

400/500mm - 18" (7/10/05 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 228x this SMC HII region appeared fairly bright, moderately large, round, 1.5' diameter with a single mag 13 star at the center (emission-line star Lin 78 = SK 9). A UHC filter produced a good contrast gain and increased the size to over 2'. A group of four stars follows including supergiant SK 13 (three brighter in a string and one faint star) and a number of faint stars are scattered nearby. Forms a similar pair with NGC 249 4.5' WNW. NGC 267 lies 12' SE.

600/800mm - 25" (10/17/17 - OzSky): at 244x; prominent, fairly large roundish glow, ~1.25' diameter, high surface brightness, surrounding a 13th magnitude H-alpha emission star (SK 9 = Lin 78). Excellent contrast gain adding a NPB (narrow-bandpass) filter yielding a superb 2' nebula, sandwiched between similar NGC 249 5' WNW and the stellar association Hodge 12 with nebulosity (SMC-N19). A number of stars are close east (part of the association) including three collinear mag 13.5-14 stars 2' E and a 4th mag 12.5 star 3' E.

SMC-N19 lies 5' ESE. At 244x it was a fairly faint, very large nebulous glow, ~3' diameter. With careful viewing an uncatalogued detached piece is sometimes visible to the NW (centered at 00 47.5 -73 05) and very faint nebulosity spreads to the southwest for a total diameter of 4' diameter. Unfiltered a 6' cloud of at least 50 mag 12.5-15 stars (Hodge Association 12) are involved with the nebula.

SMC-N30 lies ~11' ESE. At 244x unfiltered it was a fairly easy, fairly large, irregular curving or kidney-shaped nebula SW-NE, ~1.5'x0.8'. Unfiltered a couple of 14th magnitude stars are involved. Adding a NPB filter, the nebulosity was prominent and filled in to a more roundish outline.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb