Albert Marth discovered NGC 7253 = m 471 on 9 Sep 1863 and noted "vF, pE." His position is accurate though apparently he did not resolved this close pair.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/2/89): NGC 7253A is very faint, small, elongated WNW-ESE. Forms a double system (Arp 278) with NGC 7253B = VV 242b attached at the east end with a separation of 55" between center. The companion is extremely faint, small, elongated SW-NE. A pair of mag 15 stars is at the east edge.

600/800mm - 24" (7/24/14): NGC 7253 = Arp 278, a disrupted, interacting double system, was observed at 260x. NGC 7253A, the northwest component, appeared fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 5:2 WNW-ESE, ~50"x20". A mag 12.5 star is 1.3' WNW, collinear with the major axis. A 7" pair of mag 15 stars is barely off the ESE end. NGC 7253B is attached at the east-southeast end of NGC 7253A, very close to the faint double, and appears very faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, 30"x15". A mag 13.3 star is 0.7' E. Situated in a rich star field.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb