William Herschel discovered NGC 681 = H II-481 = h2436 on 28 Nov 1785 (sweep 479) and noted "pB, cL, R, about 1.5' following a small star [mag 13]." His position is 7' N of MCG -02-05-052 = PGC 6671. JH, observing from the Cape of Good Hope, measured an accurate position and noted "F; R; glbM; 35."

300/350mm - 13" (12/22/84): moderately bright, elongated ~E-W, diffuse edges, weak concentration, small bright nucleus. A mag 12.5 star is at the west edge.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/26/92): fairly faint, fairly small, irregularly round, weak concentration, faint stellar nucleus. A mag 13 star is at the NW edge of the halo. Just SW is a perfect rhombus asterism consisting of four mag 13 stars with sides 1.5' with an additional mag 14 star just east of the rhombus. MCG -02-05-053 lies 22' N. On images, this galaxy has a striking resemblance to the Sombrero Galaxy, although the dust lane was not noticed.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb