John Herschel discovered NGC 431 = h95 on 22 Nov 1827 and recorded "F; S; vsbM". His position is accurate.
400/500mm - 17.5" (12/23/89): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated SW-NE, bright core, stellar nucleus. Located 2.5' SW of a mag 10.5 star.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb