Johnstone and Bindon Stoney, LdR's assistants, discovered NGC 490, along with NGC 486, 492 and 500, on 6 Dec 1850. It was labeled Beta in the sketch and described as "vvF". The NGC position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/1/86): very faint, small, round, bright core. Located 8' NE of NGC 488. Forms the northern vertex of an equilateral triangle with NGC 488 and mag 8.3 SAO 109832 8' SE. Seeing conditions very poor.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb