William Herschel discovered NGC 701 = H I-62 = h160 = h2442 on 10 Jan 1785 (sweep 355) and noted "F, pS, irr R." On 28 Nov 1785 (sweep 479) he called this object "cB; pL; E; bM." It was placed in class I (Bright Nebulae). John Herschel observed the galaxy at both Slough and at the Cape, commenting on 9 Dec 1835 (sweep 650) from the Cape, "eF, pL; certainly not entitled to a place in the 1st class." In the GC notes, he added d'Arrest missed it with a 4.5-inch refractor at Leibzig.

300/350mm - 13.1" (12/22/84): fairly bright, very elongated 3:1 WSW-ENE, broadly concentrated halo, faint stellar nucleus suspected. Forms a pair with IC 1738 5.4' S. The smaller companion appeared faint, small, round.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb