William Herschel discovered NGC 2695 = H II-280 = h536 on 6 Jan 1785 (sweep 353) and logged "F, vS, lE, just following an obscure star, verified with 240 power." John Herschel made a more detailed observation on 13 Mar 1826 (sweep 21): "pB; S; E nearly in parallel between 2 st of 12 and 15m, each half the length of the neb from the adjacent extremity." On 9 Jan 1886, Pietro Baracchi wrote, "pB; vS; R; glbM; a star 16m following by 1 1/2 seconds nearly in the same declination a little south of neb. Another star 13m preceding by 3 sec and nearly the same declination, just a little north of neb." (48" Great Melbourne Telescope)

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/13/88): moderately bright, small, round, bright core. Situated between a mag 13 star is 0.8' W of center and a mag 14 star at the east edge 0.4' from center. Brightest in a group along with NGC 2708 30' SE. NGC 2697 lies 9.4' NE, NGC 2698 19' SE and NGC 2699 21' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb