William Herschel discovered NGC 2854 = H III-714 = h589, along with NGC 2856, on 9 Mar 1788 (sweep 815). He recorded, "cF, cS, lE." On 7 Mar 1831 (sweep 329), John Herschel wrote, "pF; R; pslbM; 20". The sp of 2 [with NGC 2856], making an isosceles triangle with a * 9m."

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/12/94): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, weak broad concentration. Located 2.1' SSE of a mag 10 star. Forms a pair with NGC 2856 3.5' NE and NGC 2857 is also in the field 10.8' ENE. Forms an unusual pair with NGC 2856 as the major axes of these similar galaxies are exactly perpendicular.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb