Gaspare Ferrari discovered NGC 7738, along with NGC 7739, on 20 Dec 1865 using the 9.5-inch refractor at the College Romain as an assistant to Secchi. These two nebulae were found while searching for Biela's Comet and simply noted as "vF. The 7th NGC 7739] is near to the south." The single position in AN 1571 is 30 seconds of RA west of UGC 12757. Dreyer also observed this galaxy in 1877 at Birr Castle, though misidentified NGC 7738 with a star. The nearest galaxy to the south is CGCG 381-038, 14' south-southeast. Edward Fath reported ("A Study of Nebulae", 1914) that NGC 7738 and 7739 were not found on plates taken with the 60-inch at Mt Wilson in 1909-12

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/2/91): faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, brighter core. NGC 7739 lies 14' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb