Edward Swift, Lewis' 14 year-old son, discovered NGC 851 = Sw. III-10 on 30 Nov 1885 with the 16" refractor at Warner Observatory. The Swifts' published position is 12 sec of RA following UGC 1680 = PGC 8368.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/23/92): faint, very small, round, weak concentration. A mag 14.5 star is at the NE edge just 22" from center. Located 20' E of mag 6.9 SAO 110378 20' W and 21' NNW of mag 6.7 SAO 110395.

600/800mm - 24" (1/25/14): at 375x appeared fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:3 or 2:1 NW-SE, ~30"x15", contains a small brighter core. A mag 14.7 star is at the NE edge [23" from center]. Located 20' E of mag 6.8 HD 13285.

NGC 851 forms a pair with IC 211 4.5' NNW. This companion was faint, moderately large, slightly elongated SW-NE, low surface brightness and difficult to estimate diameter, increases in size with averted but at least 1.0'x0.8', slightly brighter core.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb