John Herschel discovered NGC 7178 = h3912 on 31 Aug 1834 and recorded "eF; S; R; 2' n of a *8m; a double star 10/10 m follows nearly on the parallel of the nebula, and pointing directly to it. A sure observation; but except in the finest nights this neb will not be seen."

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/23/95): extremely faint, small, round, 30" diameter. Appears as a difficult low surface brightness patch with no concentration. Located 2.6' N of mag 8.1 SAO 213493. NGC 7178 was much more difficult to view than IC 5157 located 53' NNE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb