William Herschel discovered NGC 7209 = H VII-53 = h2147 on 19 Oct 1788 (sweep 868) and recorded "a large cl. of pretty compressed considerable L stars, above 15' diameter." JH made two observations, first recording on sweep 209, "place of a * 10m near the middle of a fine L p rich cluster; 50 stars from 10m to 13m counted. It fills field. Moon full."

200/250mm - 8" fairly large, spread out, similar magnitudes. Framed by an 8th magnitude star.

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/22/84): about 75 stars, bright, fairly scattered.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/12/85): 100-125 stars are resolved, bright, large. Located in a very rich field so does not stand out conspicuously.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb