William Herschel discovered NGC 686 = H III-459 = h155 = h2437 on 26 Oct 1785 (sweep 465) and noted "vF, vS, easily resolvable." John Herschel observed this galaxy both at Slough, England and at the Cape of Good Hope. He logged it from Slough on 14 Oct 1830 (sweep 306) as "vF; R; gbM; 15"; a *8 m south-preceding."

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/6/93): moderately bright, small, round, bright core, fairly bright stellar nucleus. Forms the vertex of a right angle with mag 9.2 SAO 167314 4' WNW and mag 8.1 SAO 167315 5' SW. Located at the NW edge of Fornax on the Cetus border.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb