George Johnstone Stoney, LdR's assistant, discovered NGC 384 = Au 7 on 4 Nov 1850. He labeled it "Zeta" on his sketch of the Pisces Group. Heinrich d'Arrest rediscovered this galaxy (along with NGC 385) and measured an accurate position on 12 Oct 1861 with the 11-inch Fraunhofer refractor in Copenhagen. Auwers published d'Arrest's observation in his 1862 catalogue of new nebulae and John Herschel credited d'Arrest with the discovery in the GC. Dreyer credited Lord Rosse, as well as d'Arrest, in the NGC.

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/29/84): fairly faint, small, round, small bright core. Forms a pair with NGC 385.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/19/87): fairly faint, slightly elongated, bright core. NGC 385 2' N and NGC 386 is 4.3' NNE in the NGC 383 group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb