William Herschel discovered NGC 7515 = H III-220 = h2214 = Sw. V-96 on 19 Oct 1784 (sweep 299) and recorded "vF, S, irr R, r." His position matches UGC 12418. He found the galaxy again on 23 Nov 1785 (sweep 476) and noted "F, R, bM, about 1 1/2' in diam." John Herschel also made 3 observations. Lewis Swift independently found this galaxy on 29 Sep 1886 and reported in his 5th discovery list, "pB; pS; R; double star points to it." Swift's position is 10' too far north, but his description applies.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/23/89): moderately bright, fairly small, oval ~N-S, bright core. Collinear with a bright wide double star 8' SSE (8.9/9.0 at 27").

Notes by Steve Gottlieb