William Herschel discovered NGC 7816 = H III-436 = h2298 = h2299 on 26 Sep 1785 (sweep 442) and recorded "vF, pL, lbM." JH probably made two observations on 15 and 16 Aug 1830 that he assumed were of different objects as his dec differed by 7.5'. One of these observations is certainly NGC 7816 (assumed to be a nova), but the other could possibly be NGC 7818 (matches in dec).

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/15/90): fairly faint, moderately large, round. Contains a bright core surrounded by a grainy halo. The periphery gradually fades into the background. Forms a pair with NGC 7818 7.7' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb