Johnstone and Bindon Stoney, LdR's assistants, discovered NGC 740 on 11 Oct 1850. It was labeled "Delta" on the field diagram with an offset of 197" in PA 115° from NGC 736. Close to this offset is UGC 1421 = PGC 7316. The NGC position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/1/86): very faint, thin edge-on 4:1 WNW-ESE. Located midway between a mag 10 star 1.3' ESE and a mag 14 star 1.2' WNW. Last in a group with NGC 736 3' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb