Albert Marth discovered NGC 2861 = m 162 on 28 Mar 1864 and noted "pB, R." His position is 1' too far north. d'Arrest independently discovered this galaxy on 8 Feb 1866. His single position, copied into the NGC, is 3' too far south (accurate in RA), though he mentioned a mag 14 star follows by 43" separation, so his rediscovery is certain. The NGC description ("pF, S, irR, *14 following") is also from d'Arrest. Hermann Kobold measured an accurate postion at Strasbourg in 1895 (published in 1907).

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/7/92): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, halo brightens gradually. A mag 13.5 star is at the east edge 1.1' from center and several other faint stars are near. Forms the east vertex of a right triangle with a wide mag 10/12 double star at 28" separation located 4' W and a wide mag 10/11 double star at 43" separation which lies 6' NW.

600/800mm - 24" (2/22/14): moderately bright, moderately large, small bright core, irregular surface brightness, ~1' diameter. Seems to have a brighter knot of region just SSE of the core. [On the DSS, this is the brightest portion of the southern spiral arm]. Increases in size as well as orientation with averted vision, as my eye catches faint portions of the halo. Strong impression of viewing a face-on spiral. A mag 13.6 star is 1' E of center. Brightest in a trio (KTG 24) with CGCG 6-40 3.2' SE and CGCG 6-41 7' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb