Heinrich d'Arrest discovered NGC 656 on 20 Sep 1865 with the 11-inch refractor at Copenhagen. He measured a very accurate position on 2 nights as well as the nearby mag 10 star (5 seconds preceding and 1 1/4' north).

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/30/91): fairly faint, small, round, 1.0' diameter, bright core. A mag 11 star is 1.5' NW. Located 8' ESE of mag 9 SAO 74879.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb