John Herschel discovered NGC 409 = h2382 on 29 Nov 1837 and reported "eF, R, S, near a vS star." His position is 8 sec of RA east and 2' north of ESO 352-012 and the description of the nearby star (to the NW) clinches the identification.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/4/97): very faint, small, round, 30" diameter. Located just 45" SE of a mag 13 star. Identified at 280x after missing at 220x. Brighter than NGC 415 20' NNE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb