William Herschel discovered NGC 614 = H III-174 = h135 on 13 Sep 1784 (last object using Beta And as the reference star in sweep 271) and noted "Stellar, verified with 240 power." There is nothing at his position, but 78 sec of RA preceding his position is UGC 1140 = PGC 5933. John Herschel measured an accurate position and reported "pF; psbM. Stellar, or like a star blurred" (sweep 106, 22 Nov 1827). JH also discovered NGC 608 to the southwest. NGC 627 and NGC 618 may be duplicate observations – see comments on these numbers.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/23/89): fairly faint, fairly small, round, broadly concentrated, faint stellar nucleus. Forms a pair with NGC 608 5' WSW. Located 9' S of mag 7 SAO 54817.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb