William Herschel discovered NGC 7316 = H III-180 = h2169 on 18 Sep 1784 (sweep 277) and noted "eF, vS, north of a star about 9m." His time is about 8 seconds too small, but the identification is certain.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/2/89): faint, small, elongated SW-NE, irregular surface brightness. A mag 14 star is 50" SSW of center. An extremely faint star is possibly involved at the east end. Located 3.2' NNE of mag 6.7 SAO 90628.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb