William Herschel discovered NGC 7013 = H II-203 = h2102 on 17 Jul 1784 (sweep 239) and noted "pB, bM, irregularly E, resolvable. Near a bright star." His position is nearly a minute of time too large. On 11 Sep 1784 (sweep 265) he noted "F, pL, lE, bM, south following a pB star." JH made two observations, recording (sweep 177) "pB; S; psbM; 12"; has a * 10m, pos 345° by micrometer; field full of stars." His position is accurate.

300/350mm - 13.1" (7/20/85): fairly bright, fairly large, elongated NNW-SSE, dominated by a bright core containing a faint stellar nucleus. A mag 9.5 star (BD+29 4291) lies just off the north edge 1.8' from center. Located less than 2° SE of the bright eastern section of the Veil nebula!

Notes by Steve Gottlieb