Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 878 = LM 2-330 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander McCormick Observatory. His position is 40 sec of RA west of ESO 478-022 = PGC 8771. Sherburne Burnham corrected the RA (Publ of Lick Observatory, II) and Herbert Howe also measured an accurate position in 1899-00 using the 20" refractor at Chamberlin Observatory. MCG does not label MCG -04-06-021 as NGC 878.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/28/94): faint, small, round, 30" diameter, low even surface brightness. A mag 12.5 star is 3.0' ENE of center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb