William Herschel discovered NGC 7782 = H III-233 = h2281, along with NGC 7778 and 7779, on 12 Nov 1784 (sweep 313) and recorded "vF, E; but very hazy weather." On 26 Sep 1785 (sweep 442) he noted "cF; pL glbM." On 15 Aug 1830 (sweep 280), JH logged "pB; pL; gbM; 40"."

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/29/84): Largest and brightest in a group of five with NGC 7778, NGC 7779, NGC 7780, NGC 7781. Appears moderately bright, moderately large, fairly even surface brightness.

13.1" (9/9/83): fairly faint, diffuse but easy, elongated N-S.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/1/86): moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 N-S, halo broadly concentrated to core, substellar nucleus. Brightest in a group of five galaxies with NGC 7781 7' SSW and the NGC 7778/NGC 7779 pair about 10' SW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb