Albert Marth discovered NGC 7480 = m 520, along with NGC 7478, on 11 Aug 1864 and noted "vF, vS, vlE, vgbM." His position is accurate.

300/350mm - 13.1" (11/29/86): very faint, small, edge-on WNW-ESE. Nearby NGC 7478 not seen.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/18/95): faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 WNW-ESE, 1.0'x0.3.' Contains a small, round bright core with very faint thin extensions. Preceded by an isosceles triangle of mag 10.5 stars (with equal sides about 3.5' and base 5.5'). Forms a pair with NGC 7478 4.6' WNW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb