William Herschel discovered NGC 2649 = H II-727 = h522 on 5 Feb 1788 (sweep 807) and called "pF, pL, iR, resolvable." His position is 2' NW of UGC 4555 = PGC 24531. On 9 Mar 1852, the Lord Rosse assistant wrote, "Almost planetary, star in north edge, second star much smaller preceding it."

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/20/93): very faint, fairly small, round, 1.0' diameter, almost even surface brightness. A mag 14 star is at the north edge 30" from center. MCG +06-19-020 lies 24' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb