John Herschel discovered NGC 289 = h2355 on 27 Sep 1834 and logged "vB; L; pmE; oval; has a star 11th mag north preceding.". His position and description is accurate.

In 1914, Hardcastle classified NGC 246 as a "spindle-shaped nebula" but the following year, Knox-Shaw reported it was a"open spiral" based on a photograph taken at the Helwan Observatory with the Reynolds reflector.

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/22/84): fairly bright, oval ~E-W. A mag 13 star is off the west edge.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/3/88): fairly bright, fairly large, oval NW-SE, broad concentration. A mag 13.5 star is off the NW edge 3.2' from the center. Brightest in a group that includes NGC 254 situated 1.1° WSW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb