William Herschel discovered NGC 459 = H III-205 on 15 Oct 1784 (sweep 291) and described as "eF, 240 left a doubt, though it rather confirmed it. I perceived it in counting a field, otherwise I should never have suspected it." WH's position for III-205 is 01 18.2 +17 39 which is 7' north of UGC 832 = PGC 4665, and this is the only nearby candidate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/16/93): extremely faint, very small, round, very low even surface brightness. A mag 14 star is 1' SE. Located 5' WSW of two mag 10/11.5 stars.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb