John Herschel discovered NGC 7706 = h2253 on 16 Oct 1827 and logged "vF, but brighter than the preceding." The preceding refers to NGC 7704, which was discovered on the previous sweep just 3 nights earlier.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/27/87): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated WNW-ESE, broad concentration. A mag 14 star is 27" SW of center. Similar in size and brightness to NGC 7704 4.7' SSW but a weaker concentration.

17.5" (11/1/86): similar in size and brightness to NGC 7704 but contains a slightly brighter core. Slightly elongated NW-SE, a faint star is 1' SW.

600/800mm - 24" (11/24/14): moderately bright and large, oval 4:3 WNW-ESE, contains a bright, elongated core and a faint, oval halo. A mag 14.8 star is on the south edge [27" from center]. Brightest in the WBL 718 group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb