R.J. Mitchell discovered NGC 2873 on 22 Feb 1857 while observing NGC 2872 and 2874. He sketched a trio and noted "Is Beta a vF neb?" A month later, NGC 2873 = Beta was confirmed. In the 1874 observation, Copeland measured an exact micrometric offset from NGC 2872. This galaxy is not included in CGCG, UGC or RC3 but appears to be mentioned as an anonymous galaxy in the UGC notes.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/20/88): extremely faint, very small, round. Faintest in a tight trio situated 2.0' NE of NGC 2872 and 1.8' N of NGC 2874.

600/800mm - 24" (2/8/18): at 375x; extremely faint, small, elongated 2:1 NW-SE?, ~20"x10". Required averted vision to pick up and could not hold continuously.

900/1200mm - 48" (2/21/12): fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated 5:2 or 3:1 NW-SE, 0.6'x0.2', very small slightly brighter nucleus. Faintest member of a striking trio with NGC 2874 and NGC 2872 (Arp 307) to the south and SW, respectively.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb