John Herschel discovered NGC 2698 = h538 on 11 Mar 1826 (sweep 20) and recorded "vF; R; resolvable; 30"; stars suspected in it. A *9 m precedes. This may possibly be II. 281 [NGC 2708] with an error of 10' in PD, but I have no reason for believing my obs erroneous." His position and description matches PGC 25067.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/13/88): moderately bright, small, oval ~E-W, bright core, stellar nucleus. Located 4.0' SE of mag 7.1 SAO 136405. Forms a pair with NGC 2699 4.7' NE. Brightest in a group with NGC 2695.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb