William Herschel discovered NGC 654 = H VII-46 = h145 on 3 Nov 1787 (sweep 774) and noted "a small cluster of pretty large stars, pretty rich." John Herschel described on 5 Oct 1829 (sweep 216), "a fine rich cluster; stars 11...14m; 3' dia; irreg fig; place that of the most compressed part; one star 6.7 mag, south-following the center, is ruddy."

200/250mm - 8" rich in faint stars including doubles. A mag 7 star is at the southeast edge.

300/350mm - 13.1" (10/20/84): 35 stars, rich, includes several doubles. Located just northwest of mag 7.3 HD 10494, which is a likely member.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb