Caroline Herschel discovered NGC 659 = VIII-65 on 27 Sep 1783 with her 4.2-inch comet-seeker reflector. She observed it again on 30 Oct 1783. William Herschel independently discovered the cluster on 3 Nov 1787 (sweep 774) and logged "a small cluster of small stars, not very rich." In his PT catalogue, he noted "Caroline Herschel [discovered it in ] 1783."

300/350mm - 13.1" (10/20/84): ~20 stars in cluster, not impressive. Located 80' E of M103.

13.1" (11/5/83): 18 stars at 166x over haze. In field to NW of NGC 663.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb