William Herschel discovered NGC 833 = H II-482 = h199 = h2463, along with NGC 835, 838 and 839, on 28 Nov 1785 (sweep 479). He recorded the quartet as "Two, both faint, both E and S within a minute of each other [NGC 833 & NGC 835], and not far from the parallel. About 4 or 5' south and about 2 seconds following are two more [NGC 838 & NGC 839], a little fainter and smaller; bot also E and resembling each other, and the situation not far from the meridian. 240 verified them all, so as to leave no doubt." Joseph Turner made a nice sketch of the group in 1876 using the 48" Great Melbourne Telescope (plate I, figure 7).

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/31/86): moderately bright, small, edge-on ~E-W, bright core. Forms a very close pair with NGC 835 1.0' E of center in the HCG 16 with NGC 838 and NGC 839.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb