William Herschel discovered NGC 496 = H III-157, along with NGC 495 and NGC 499, on 12 Sep 1784 (sweep 268) and observed again the next night (sweep 271). See description under NGC 495. The NGC position is 0.1 tmin west and 1' south of UGC 927 = PGC 5061.

300/350mm - 13.1" (8/8/86): faint, low even surface brightness. Second and largest of three with NGC 495 4.8' SW and NGC 499 4.2' S.

600/800mm - 24" (10/4/13): fairly faint to moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 SSW-NNE, 0.9'x0.45', low fairly even surface brightness with a weak concentration. but no distinct core. Located in the NGC 499 subgroup of the NGC 507 Group with NGC 498 2.4' S, NGC 499 4.2' S, NGC 495 4.8' SW and NGC 501 6.3' SSE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb