William Herschel discovered NGC 708 = H III-565 = h159, along with NGC 703, 704 and 705, 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." John Herschel logged on 17 Nov 1828 (sweep 105), "pB; pL; lbM; 40" [diameter]."

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/22/84): very faint, small, round, largest in a group of four. A mag 15 star is off the north edge.

13.1" (12/11/82): brightest in the central group, small, round.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/19/87): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, weak concentration. A mag 15 star is at the north end just 0.2' from center. Located in the central core of AGC 262 with NGC 703 1.8' NW, NGC 705 1.1' SW and NGC 704 2.7' SW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb