Albert Marth discovered NGC 291 = m 17 on 27 Sep 1864 with Lassell's 48" on Malta and recorded "vF, vS, lE, alm stellar." His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/5/91): faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, very thin extensions. Located 12' W of 21 Ceti (V = 6.2) at the edge of 220x field.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb