William Herschel discovered NGC 781 = H III-215 on 16 Oct 1784 (sweep 295) and logged "eF, stellar, found with 240 power." His position is 2' north of UGC 1482 = PGC 7577.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/27/92): fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 SSW-NNE, 1.0'x0.3', dominated by a round small bright core, much fainter extensions.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb