R.J. Mitchell discovered NGC 501 on 28 Oct 1856 using Lord Rosse's 72". It was sketched as object "E" and described as "vF, S."

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/4/97): very faint, very small, round, 20" diameter. Can just hold continually with averted vision once identified. Located 2.8' SE of NGC 499 in a cluster. A mag 10.5 star lies 1.8' NE.

600/800mm - 24" (10/4/13): fairly faint, very small, slightly elongated, 20"x15", very small brighter nucleus. Located 2.8' SE of NGC 499 and 1.8' SW of a mag 11.3 star in the NGC 507 Group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb