William Herschel discovered NGC 7741 = H II-208 = St XII-95 on 10 Sep 1784 (sweep 264) and recorded "F, cL, R, brightest in the middle; the brightness diminishing by very gradual shades, sf a star (of the 10 or 11 magnitude by memory)." His position is 4' northwest the center of UGC 12754. Heinrich d'Arrest observed the galaxy on 6 nights (first on 1 Sep 1864), noted the error in WH's position, and accurately measured the offset to the double star off the northwest side.

Édouard Stephan independently discovered this galaxy on 25 Oct 1881, also measured an accurate micrometric position and recorded "eF, fairly large, irr oval, elong E to W, two points of condensation." In the remarks section at the end of the list, Stephan notes this object is identical to GC 5005 [NGC 7741], but WH's position was poor. Perhaps while preparing his manuscript, he read d'Arrest's observations. The 10 Dec 1873 observation at Birr Castle reads "cB, L, mE 108°, much diffused neby south and following, which Lord Rosse suspected to be divided into branching [spiral] arms."

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/9/83): faint, moderately large, diffuse, elongated ~N-S. A pretty double star mag 9/11 at 24" is just off the north edge 2' from center and interferes with viewing.

600/800mm - 24" (8/30/16): at 226x; bright, fairly large, dominated by a central bar extending at least 3:1 E-W, ~45"x15". A very low surface brightness arm is attached at the west end of the bar and extends to the south. The corresponding arm extending north on the east end was less obvious and only marginally glimpsed. The arms blend into a low surface brightness halo at least 2' in diameter. A nice mag 9.8/12 double star is off the NW side 2' from center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb