Frederick Pechüle discovered NGC 78 around 1876 using the 11-inch Merz refractor at the Copenhagen Observatory. The discovery must have been communicated directly to Dreyer as it was included in the GC Supplement (5094), but there was no published announcement. The NGC position is 1.5' north of UGC 193 = PGC 1306. This is a double galaxy and identified as NGC 78A and 78B in the MCG. NGC 78B is and RC3. The RNGC designations are reversed in RA.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/20/88): this is a double system with the southwestern member appearing faint, very small, round, bright core. The companion is attached at the northeast end and appears very faint, very small, round, low even surface brightness. The two components are separated by just 30" and are within a common halo.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb