Guillaume Bigourdan discovered NGC 79 = Big. 2, along with NGC 86 and 94, on 14 Nov 1884 with the 12" at the Paris Observatory at the NW end of the NGC 80 group. His position matches CGCG 479-003 = PGC 1340. 10 days later he also picked up NGC 96.

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/29/84): faint, very small, slightly elongated.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/19/87): faint, fairly small, almost round, broad concentration. Located at the NW end of the NGC 80 group 9.1' NW of NGC 83. NGC 80 lies 13' SSE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb