John Herschel discovered NGC 275 = h70 on 9 Oct 1828 and logged "A fine double neb; the preceding only seen by my father. pB; S; smbM. The f is vF; S; R; pos = 60°; dist of centres 40". The neb join at borders." Also see the observations using Lord Rosse's 72" under NGC 274.

Based on a photograph taken at the Helwan observatory with the Reynolds reflector in 1927-31, NGC 275 was described as an "irregula nebula with 4 pB stellar knots, and one vF knot involved. These knots are joined together in the form of an "M", the preceding side of which curves round and extends as far as NGC 274."

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/29/84): moderately bright, fairly small, diffuse, even surface brightness. Forms a close pair with NGC 274 1' NW.

600/800mm - 24" (10/5/13): at 375x appeared moderately to fairly bright, elongated 5:3 NW-SE, ~45"x27". Very unusual patchy, irregular appearance! A brighter elongated N-S patch (or arm) is on the east end. Also the southwest border is slightly brighter with a sharp, curving edge. This edge is more prominent at the NW end of the galaxy, where it merges with NGC 274 just northwest.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb