R.J. Mitchell discovered NGC 7397, along with NGC 7401 and 7398, while observing NGC 7396 at Birr Castel on 2 Oct 1856. He noted "about 5' nf [of NGC 7396] is another neb, pF, S, R, bM and f[ollowing] the latter are 2 vF, S, R neb knots." A sketch was made on 23 Oct 1857 and NGC 7397 was labeled "C". On 22 Dec 1876, Dreyer measured micrometric offsets to NGC 7397 from a mag 12 star 3.8' northeast of NGC 7396.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/22/87): faint, very small, elongated NW-SE, brighter core. Located 6.5' ENE of NGC 7396 in a group with NGC 7398 4.2' N, NGC 7401 3.0' ENE and NGC 7402 4.5' ENE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb