Johnstone and Bindon Stoney, LdR's assistants, discovered NGC 318 = St XII-7 on the 3 Nov 1855 observation (only) of NGC 315 . It was noted as "F, S, R." and placed accurately on a sketch in line with NGC 311 and 315. Édouard Stephan independently found this galaxy on 6 Nov 1882 and listed it as new in his 12th discovery list, missing the earlier GC entry. Stephan's position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/17/87): very faint, very small, round, weak concentration. A mag 13.5 is off the NW edge 0.9' from the center. Located 5.6' NE of NGC 315 and the third of three in a group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb