John Herschel discovered NGC 311 = h78 on 15 Sep 1828 while observing H II-210 = NGC 313, and recorded "F, vS; R; bM; 6". The next sweep he logged "pB; R; gbM; 10"."

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/17/87): fairly faint, small, round, small bright core, faint stellar nucleus. First of three on line and equally spaced with NGC 315 6' NE and NGC 316 12' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb