William Herschel discovered NGC 7457 = H II-212 = h2201 on 12 Sep 1784 (sweep 267) and recorded "pB, pL, lE, mbM, r. South of 2 faint stars. Some stars visible in it." His position is just off the west side of the galaxy. JH made a single observation, "B; L; lE; pgbM; 60"; has a stellar point in the centre." The observers at Birr Castle noted a star involved just preceding the nucleus.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/13/88): bright, fairly large, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, very bright core, very small bright nucleus. Forms a pair with UGC 12311 8' NE (logged as "very faint, fairly small, elongated NW-SE, even surface brightness"). Several bright stars in field including two mag 10 stars 3.5' NE and 2.8' E. A mag 11 star is 5.0' ENE and mag 9 SAO 90959 9.5' ENE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb