John Herschel discovered NGC 452 = h96 on 22 Nov 1827 and reported "vF; E; a * 9m np and a small * nf at the extremity of the nebula." His position is accurate and a star is superimposed at the NE end. The field was observed 7 times using Lord Rosse's 72". R.J. Mitchell's observation on 3 Nov 1855 reads "mE, pB nucleus and a star in north end; np. this neb. is a star of the 9th mag, and about the same distance preceding this star is another neb., vF, mE [NGC 444].

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/23/89): fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated SW-NE, bright core. Located 3.2' SE of a mag 10.5 star. Forms a pair with NGC 444 6' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb