William Herschel discovered NGC 2787 = H I-216 = h570 on 3 Dec 1788 (sweep 890) and recorded "p or cB, pL, iF." On 8 Nov 1801 (sweep 1100) he noted, "vB, R, mbB, seems to be resolvable. Towards the sf, within the nebulosity, is a vS star." His position is ~10' southeast of UGC 4914. On 28 Oct 1831, John Herschel wrote, "F; E in parallel; psbM; 30" [diameter]." and measured an accurate position.

200/250mm - 8" fairly faint, small, bright core. A mag 7 star is 25' NE.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/6/91): bright, fairly small, slightly elongated 4:3 NW-SE, 2.0'x1.5', even concentration to a small very bright core. A mag 14 star is at the SE edge of the halo 0.9' from the center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb