John Herschel discovered NGC 89 = h2318 (along with NGC 87, 88 and 92) on 30 Sep 1834 and recorded "vF; S; R; gbM. The 3rd of four."

600/800mm - 30" (11/4/10 - Coonabarabran, 429x): moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, 1.0'x0.5', very small slightly brighter core, faint stellar nucleus. Has a slightly higher surface brightness than NGC 92. Furthest southern member of the compact Phoenix Quartet (Rose 34) with NGC 87, 88, and 92. NGC 88 lies 1.5' N and a faint star is 43" N (at the midpoint to NGC 88).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb