Albert Marth discovered NGC 7642 = m 576, along with NGC 7629, on 19 Oct 1864. He noted "vF, vS, bM" and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/1/87): faint, very small, round, weak concentration. Appears about a half a magnitude fainter than the CGCG mag 14.5z.

600/800mm - 24" (1/1/16): at 375x; faint/fairly faint, very small, round, 20" diameter, weak concentration to center. CGCG 380-049 lies 2.7' SE. The companion appeared very faint, very small, slightly elongated, 12"x9". A mag 15.3 star is 45" W.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb