William Herschel discovered NGC 2852 = H III-629 = h588, along with NGC 2853, on 18 Mar 1787 (sweep 716), and described both as "Two, both vF, vS, 300 shewed them both very well, nearly in the same meridian, and about 3' distance." His position was between the two galaxies, but close to NGC 2852. John Herschel wrote on 18 Mar 1831 (sweep 335), "vF; S; R: has a * 10m 2' dist preceding. The first of 2 [with NGC 2853]."

300/350mm - 13.1" (1/18/85): extremely small, appears as a barely non-stellar "knot" forming a close pair with NGC 2853 2.5' NNE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb