William Herschel discovered NGC 380 = H II-216 = h85, along with NGC 379 = II-215 and NGC 383 = II-217 on 12 Sep 1784 (sweep 268). See description under NGC 379.

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/29/84): fairly faint, small, round, bright core.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/19/87): fairly faint, small, round, bright core, stellar nucleus. Forms a pair with NGC 379 2' S in the NGC 383 group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb