John Herschel discovered NGC 578 = h2418 on 11 Nov 1835 and logged "B; L; pmE; gpmbM; 3' long, 2' broad." His position is accurate.

200/250mm - 8" (9/25/81): faint, fairly large, elongated. Lies SE of a mag 8 star.

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/1/92): fairly faint, fairly large, elongated 4:3 WNW-ESE, ~4'x3', slightly brighter middle is mottled, no distinct core. A mag 14 star or knot is at the east end 1.3' from the center. The SDSS image reveals this is a galaxy, catalogued as PGC 133775. Located 11' SE of mag 7.8 SAO 81972.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb