William Herschel discovered NGC 890 = H II-225 = h217 on 13 Sep 1784 (sweep 271) and noted "F, vS, R." John Herschel made 4 observations and first logged it on 11 Nov 1827 (sweep 100) as "pB; R; gbM; has 3 or 4 S st p[receding] in a chain". The galaxy was also observed 6 times at Birr Castle. On 12 Oct 1855, R.J. Mitchell remarked "pL, oval major axis spnf, sbM, probably a distant globular cluster." There are a couple of very faint stars around the periphery and this may have given the impression of a distant globular.

200/250mm - 8" (11/8/80): faint, small, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, wide double star mag 12/13 lies 3' W.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/29/94): moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, 2.0'x1.0'. Sharply concentrated with a prominent core containing a stellar nucleus. Using averted vision the faint extensions increase to 2' length. A group of stars is off the west side.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb