William Herschel discovered NGC 7797 = H III-867 = h2289 on 6 Dec 1790 (sweep 984) and recorded "eF, pS, lbM, irr R. I saw it with difficulty, but very well." JH made the single observation "eF; not vS." and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/6/88): very faint, fairly small, oval ~N-S, almost even surface brightness.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb