William Herschel discovered NGC 61 = H III-428 = h14 on 10 Sep 1785 (sweep 435) and logged "vF; vS; irr figure." John Herschel called it "F; R psbM; 15"." The declination in RNGC (copied from MCG) is 5' too large. MCG and RC3 label the brighter component as NGC 61A.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/20/88): this is a double system with the brighter component (NGC 61A = MCG -01-01-062) at the SSE end appearing faint, very small, contains a small bright core. In a common halo with(NGC 61B = MCG -01-01-063 at the NNW edge. The fainter component appeared very faint, extremely small, round. Located near the Cetus border. MCG -01-01-065 lies 10' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb