John Herschel discovered NGC 7261 = h2159 on 5 Oct 1829 and recorded "The chief star of a coarse p rich cluster which fills the field. Stars 10...15m." His position matches mag 9.6 HD 239927.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/5/91): about 30 stars in a 7'x3' region elongated N-S. Set over a background of some unresolved haze on the north side of cluster. Includes six brighter stars with a mag 9 star on the SE side. Fairly rich in faint stars on the north side although not rich in other sections.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb