John Herschel discovered NGC 888 = h2473 on 6 Oct 1834 and logged "eF, S, R, has two small stars very near it.". His position and description matches ESO 115-002 = PGC 8743.

600/800mm - 30" (11/4/10 - Coonabarabran, 429x): moderately bright, small, round, 30" diameter, broad concentration to center but no defined zones. A star is just off the NW edge, 25" from center. One the east side are two very faint stars. The closest is at the edge of the halo, just 16" from center while the second star is 35" NE of center. A wide pair of mag 13 stars is centered 3.5' NNE. PGC 101153 (2MASX J02162596-5956270) was picked up 9' SW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb