John Herschel discovered NGC 7166 = h3903, along with NGC 7162, on 5 Sep 1834 and recorded "pB; S; R; psmbM; 15"." His position is just off the east side of the galaxy.

600/800mm - 30" (10/14/15 - OzSky): at 303x; bright, moderately large, very elongated 7:2 SSW-NNE, 1.5'x0.4', sharply concentrated with a very small intense core and quasi-stellar nucleus. CPO 628, a nice mag 11.9/13.3 double at ~5" separation lies 4.8' due east and another mag 11.5 star is 2.5' NE. Brightest in a small group with NGC 7162 11' NW and NGC 7162A 15' N. NGC 7162A, a Magellanic spiral, appeared very diffuse, large glow, circular,~2' diameter, no distinct core or zones.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb