George Johnstone Stoney, Lord Rosse's assistant, discovered NGC 2831 on 13 Mar 1850 and was one of "15 knots in all". A sketch made in March 1851 shows NGC 2831 labeled Beta and measured as 25" southwest (PA = 226°) of NGC 2832. The NGC dec is 1' too large.

The identifications of NGC 2830 and NGC 2831 are reversed in MCG and RNGC. This was caused by a mixup in the descriptions in the NGC. See notes for NGC 2830.

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/31/87): very faint, extremely small. Appears as a round knot at the southwest edge of halo of NGC 2832 just 0.4' from center in the core of AGC 779. Forms a trio with NGC 2830 0.9' WSW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb