William Herschel discovered NGC 36 = H III-456 on 25 Oct 1785 (sweep 464) and recorded "vF, pS, irr figure." His RA is 1.0 minute too large, but it was corrected by d'Arrest and Bigourdan and the NGC position is just 1' south of UGC 106 = PGC 798.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/20/88): fairly faint, fairly small, almost round, bright core. A mag 14 star lies 1.9' NE. Forms a close pair with MCG +01-01-044 1.0' E of center, though the companion was not seen.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb