R.J. Mitchell discovered NGC 69 on 7 Oct 1855 using LdR's 72", while observing the NGC 68 group. It's clearly shown on the sketch on plate XXV in the 1861 publication. The NGC position matches CGCG 499-105 = PGC 1191.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/27/87): extremely faint and small, faint stellar nucleus. In the core of the NGC 68 group with NGC 67 1.8' NW, NGC 71 1.6' NNE, NGC 72 1.8' E.

600/800mm - 24" (9/15/12): faint, very small, round, 15" diameter, bright quasi-stellar nucleus. Member of the compact NGC 68 group and first in a string with NGC 72 1.8' E and NGC 72A 3.0' E.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb