William Herschel discovered NGC 2815 = H III-242 = h3153 on 20 Nov 1784 (sweep 326) and recorded "vF, lE, S, that is about 1' diameter." From the Cape of Good Hope on 21 Mar 1835 (sweep 559), John Herschel noted, "F, R, or vlE, glbM, 25"."

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/28/87): fairly faint, fairly large, broadly concentrated halo, faint extensions SSW-NNE, fairly low surface brightness.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb