Heinrich d'Arrest discovered NGC 721 on 27 Aug 1862 with the 11-inch refractor at Copenhagen and recorded "eF, pL, no ncl". His RA is 8 seconds too large (single measure). MCG doesn't label their entry as NGC 721.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/27/92): faint, fairly small, 1' diameter, slightly elongated 4:3 NW-SE, very diffuse, low surface brightness, no central concentration. Located in fairly rich star field.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb