William Herschel discovered NGC 2781 = H I-66 = h569 = h3147 on 8 Feb 1785 (sweep 371) and recorded "B, vS, iF, mbM." John Herschel called it "pB; E in parallel; psbM; 60" length." and measured an accurate position. From the Cape of Good Hope, he recorded "B, E, psmbM, 40" l, 30" br." Joseph Turner, observing the Great Melbourne Telescope on 17 Jan 1877, sketched the galaxy as a sharply concentrated edge-on with a small nucleus.

200/250mm - 8" very faint, small, 1.0' diameter, weak concentration. Located within a group of stars.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/8/97): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 E-W, 2.5'x1.4', sharp concentration with a prominent 40"x20" core. A mag 13 star lies 2' N. Located 8' NNE of mag 8.7 SAO 154982.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb