Edward Holden discovered NGC 7226 on 20 Jun 1881 with the 15.6" Clark refractor at the Washburn Observatory and described a "pB nebula connected with a small cluster of stars which radiate in two streams from the f[ollowing] to p[receding] side. Diam of Neb 5', of Cl. 15'. North-preceding in p[osition angle] 315° is a small knot which may be nebulous." His position is just off the east side of this small cluster.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/2/91): 15 stars resolved at 220x within a compact 2' diameter. The brightest mag 11 star is at the WNW edge and a close double star mag 12/13 at 11" is at the NE edge. The remaining dozen very faint stars are 14th and 15th mag and located along the south side. Situated in a rich star field over unresolved background haze.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb