Frank Muller discovered NGC 7103 = LM 2-461, along with NGC 7104, in 1886 with the 26" refractor at the Leander McCormick Observatory. He noted "mag 14.0; 0.3' diam; R; gbM; 1st of 2 [with NGC 7104]." His position is 1.0 minute of RA too far east. Ormond Stone measured an accurate micrometric position the following year (repeated in the IC 1 Notes).

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/13/90): faint, small, round, small bright core, stellar nucleus. Brightest in cluster ACO S963 with NGC 7104 4.0' NE, IC 5122 4.2' NNW, and IC 1393 6.4' NE. Globular cluster M30 lies 45' SSE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb