Albert Marth discovered NGC 471 = m 42 (along with NGC 469 and NGC 475) on 3 Nov 1864 with Lassell's 48" on Malta and noted as "neb *12m". His dec is 1' N of UGC 861. Engelhardt provided a micrometric position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/30/91): fairly faint, very small, round, very small very bright core, sharp stellar nucleus. NGC 469 is 10' NW. Superimposed on the distant cluster AGC 175.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb