John Herschel discovered NGC 265 = h2351 in the SMC on 11 Apr 1834 and remarked "vF; situated on the edge of the Nubecula Minor." On a later sweep he recorded as "vF, R, 30 arcseconds."

Pietro Baracchi observed this SMC cluster, along with many others, on 16 Dec 1887 with the Melbourne telescope. He called it "pB; S; R, gbM"

400/500mm - 18" (7/10/05 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 228x, this SMC cluster appeared moderately bright and large, 1' diameter, round, fairly symmetrical appearance with no concentration. NGC 256 lies 5.7' WSW with NGC 269 6' SE.

600/800mm - 25" (10/17/17 - OzSky): at 244x and 397x; bright, fairly large, irregular outline, ~1' diameter, mottled appearance, brighter on the north end. A few resolved stars occasionally sparkled. Three other clusters are within 6'; NGC 256 to the WSW, Kron 25 is 3.6' WSW and NGC 269 to the SE. A mag 9.7 star is 4.8' W and a mag 8.5 star is 9' E. Situated in a very rich field of faint stars with numerous HII regions and clusters to the north.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb