William Herschel discovered NGC 2701 = H IV-66 = h537 on 18 Mar 1790 (sweep 949) and recorded "a small star with a fan-shaped nebula. The star is on the preceding side of the diverging chevelure, and seems to be connected with it." His position (Auwers' reduction) was 4' too far south. On 10 Feb 1831 John Herschel logged, "A 11-12m with a pB fan-shaped neb appendage in which there seems to one vF. A curious object. See fig 65." His position is accurate.

300/350mm - 13.1" (2/23/85): fairly faint, almost even surface brightness. A mag 12 star on the northwest edge interferes with viewing the halo.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb