William Herschel discovered NGC 705 = H III-562, along with NGC 703, 704 and NGC 708, on 21 Sep 1786 (sweep 599). He described the group as "Four, unequal, 3 in a row [NGC 704, 705, 708], the 4th NGC 703] making a rectangle with them. All in the space of 2 or 3'; the one at the angular part NGC 708] is much larger than the others." The NGC position is accurate.

300/350mm - 13.1" (10/20/84): very faint, very small, star less than 1' SW between NGC 703 and NGC 704.

13.1" (12/11/82): extremely faint, very small.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/19/87): very faint, very small, slightly elongated, weak concentration. Located in the core of AGC 262 with NGC 703 1.7' N, NGC 704 1.3' SW and NGC 708 1.1' NE. A mag 14 star is 40" south, midway to NGC 704.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb