William Herschel discovered NGC 7377 = H II-598 = h2181 on 13 Oct 1786 (sweep 609) and recorded "pB, pL, iR, vgmbM." The observation was using the "front-view" configuration (adopted as the primary method after earlier experiments) at the edge of his tube, bypassing the need for a secondary. John Herschel made three additional observations.

200/250mm - 8" (9/25/81): faint, small, round, diffuse. Two mag 9 stars 6' NNW and 10' N are aligned N-S.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/5/91): fairly bright, fairly small, slightly elongated ~E-W, 1' diameter, gradually increases to a small bright core. A group of stars lies south and mag 8.5 SAO 191412 is 11' N.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb