John Herschel discovered NGC 7702 = h3999 on 28 Oct 1834 and recorded "vB; pmE; smbM; 30" l; has a * 9m 23.5 seconds preceding, 10" north." His mean position (measured on 2 nights) is accurate.

600/800mm - 30" (10/13/15 - OzSky): at 303x; very bright, fairly large, elongated at least 2:1 WNW-ESE, 1.4'x0.6', sharply concentrated with an intensely bright core that increases gradually to the center. On images this galaxy has a strong apparent ring though it is not connected to a bar. Visually the ring was evident as a well defined oval periphery that brightened slightly at the ends of the major axis (WNW and ESE ends). A mag 8.2 star (HD 221752) lies 3.4' W.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb