William Herschel discovered NGC 853 = H II-486 on 28 Nov 1785 (sweep 479) and logged "F, S, E". The NGC position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/4/93): moderately bright, elongated 2:1 WSW-ENE, 1.5'x0.8'. Located midway between two mag 12 and 13 stars 1.8' NE and 1.7' SW. Forms the vertex of an isosceles triangle with two mag 9.5 and 10.5 stars in the field 7' NW and 5' WSW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb