R.J. Mitchell discovered NGC 2857 on 9 Jan 1856 and recorded "Both oval [NGC 2854 and 2856], their larger axes at right angles to one another, p one [NGC 2854] susp patchy." About 7' nf the n one is another, pL, slightly oval, follows 4 small stars, mottled, * susp in centre. Is there about 5' f this latter another vS knot with 2 st p and n?" The last object noted is CGCG 238-051, which Dreyer failed to assign an NGC designation. Although Mitchell's offset from NGC 2856 is accurate, the NGC position is off a bit.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/12/94): very faint, round, very diffuse, 2.0' diameter. This face-on spiral appears as a low surface brightness glow with no concentration. The appearance is unusual, though, as four stars cradle the galaxy on the west side including a mag 13 star 1.6' NW, a mag 12 star 1.8' W and two mag 14 stars close SW. In the same field with NGC 2856 7.3' SSW and NGC 2854 10.8' SSW (Arp 285). CGCG 238-051 lies 3.9' ENE, but was not recorded.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb