William Herschel discovered NGC 7805 = H III-855 = h2294, along with NGC 7806, on 9 Oct 1790 (sweep 971), and recorded "Two, eF, stellar, between 1' of each other, from 30° sp to nf." On sweep 178, JH reported "eF; S; R: sbM; double; the sp of 2."

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/14/87): fairly faint, very small, slightly elongated, bright core, stellar nucleus. A mag 13.5 star is 1.0' W. Forms a close similar pair with NGC 7806 30" off the NE edge and 54" between centers (the pair is Arp 112).

600/800mm - 24" (12/1/16): at 375x; moderately bright, fairly small, compact, very slightly elongated SW-NE, 25"x20", small bright core, very small bright stellar nucleus. Forms a similar double system (Arp 112) with NGC 7806 [50" NE between centers]. A mag 13.5 star is 1' W.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb