William Herschel discovered NGC 7046 = H III-858 = h2109 on 10 Oct 1790 (sweep 973) and recorded "eF, pL, iR, vlbM, requires great attention to be seen." JH made two observations, first logging on sweep 94, "eF; R; barely visible; night exquisite." His mean position is accurate.

300/350mm - 13.1" (6/29/84): faint, very diffuse, irregularly round, even surface brightness. A group of faint stars are off the SE edge.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/10/91): faint, fairly small, slightly elongated ~E-W, very diffuse, weak concentration. Two mag 15 stars are off the north and south edges. IC 1367 is 15' NW and IC 1365 20' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb