William Herschel discovered NGC 514 = H II-252 = h112 on 16 Oct 1784 (sweep 295) and logged "F, pL, oval, lbM, preceding a pretty bright star." John Herschel reported on 17 Ocg 1825 (sweep 15), "vL; irr R; vglbM; by diagram at least 3' in diameter; a remarkable object. Is closely followed by the D* h13; see fig. 38." The galaxy was observed 6 times at Birr Castle. The earliest observation on 13 Dec 1848 noted "h's D* [referring to John Herschel's h 13] is triple and perhaps quadruple. 2 nuclei or nucleus and star in nebula." The NGC position is accurate.

200/250mm - 8" (1/1/84): faint, moderately large, very diffuse, even surface brightness. A mag 9 star off the east edge interferes with viewing.

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/1/92): fairly faint, fairly large, 2.5'x2.0', elongated ~E-W, broad weak concentration, edges fade into the background, low surface brightness but granular or mottled texture. Located 3.1' WNW of a mag 9.5 star. A mag 13.5 star is 3.4' SW. Several faint stars are very close including a mag 14 star at the northeast edge and a mag 15 star at the south edge 1.5' from center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb