John Herschel discovered NGC 857 = h2469 on 18 Nov 1835 and logged "B, S, E, psmbM, 18"." His position (also measured on the next sweep) matches ESO 415-006 = PGC 8455.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/28/94): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 1.0' diameter. Sharp concentration with a very small bright core surrounded by a very faint halo. A mag 13.5 star is 2.8' NNW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb