John Herschel discovered NGC 527 = h2409 (along with NGC 526 = h2408) on 1 Sep 1834 and recorded "pB, S, E, bM, 20". The following of 2 [with NGC 526]".

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/1/97): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 SSW-NNE, 1.0'x0.4', weak concentration to a slightly brighter core. A mag 13 star lies 1' NE. The double system NGC 526 is 3.1' N. NGC 527, itself, is a double system with MCG -06-04-022 = PGC 5142 (not seen), a faint edge-on system, close following the south end and just 46" between centers.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb