Johnstone and Bindon Stoney, LdR's assistants, discovered NGC 492 on 6 Dec 1850 during an observation of the NGC 488 field. It was labeled "Delta" in the diagram and called "vvF". The sketch and position clearly identifies NGC 492 = PGC 4976. The sketch appears to show a faint double star mentioned in my notes close NW but not the close companion to the SW, which was first mentioned in Heber Curtis' published descriptions of nebulae photographed with the Crossley reflector (1918) at Lick.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/4/97): extremely faint, small, round, 25" diameter, low surface brightness, no concentration. On line with a mag 12 star 3.7' NW and a faint pair of mag 14-14.5 stars [at 22" separation] 2' NW. Forms a close pair with MCG +01-04-037 1' SW (not seen). NGC 492 is located 12' NE of NGC 488 member with several other faint galaxies (NGC 486 8.5' SW, NGC 490 4' SW, NGC 500 7' ESE) in the field.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb