George Johnstone Stoney, LdR's assistant, discovered NGC 385 = Au 8 on 4 Nov 1850. He labeled it "Epsilon" in his sketch of the NGC 383 (Pisces) Group. Heinrich d'Arrest independently found this galaxy on 7 Oct 1861 with the 11-inch Fraunhofer refractor in Copenhagen and measured an accurate position (4 measurements). d'Arrest's observation was included in Auwers 1862 catalogue of new nebulae and JH credited d'Arrest with the discovery in the GC. Dreyer credited both LdR and d'Arrest when compiling the NGC.

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/29/84): fairly faint, small, small bright core, similar to NGC 384.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/19/87): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, bright core. Forms a trio with NGC 386 2.6' N and NGC 384 1.8' S in the NGC 383 group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb