John Herschel discovered NGC 7314 = h3949 on 29 Jul 1834 and recorded "pB; L; mE in meridian; vlbM; 4' l, 2' br; moonlight." His position (also measured the next sweep) is accurate.

200/250mm - 8" (8/28/89): faint, moderately large, elongated, diffuse.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/13/90): fairly bright, fairly large, elongated 3:1 N-S, 2.7'x0.9', broad concentration. A mag 15 star is just off the east side. A brighter mag 12 star lies 2.0' W of center. Forms a pair with NGC 7313 4.4' SW.

600/800mm - 24" (9/25/19): at 200x and 375x; bright, large, elongated 5:2 N-S, ~2.5'x1.0'. Subtle spiral structure was seen. A bright linear arm extended ~N-S along the SW flank. A 15th mag star is close off the E side, 0.9' from center and a 12th mag star is 2' WNW of center. Pair with NGC 7313 4.5' SW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb