William Herschel discovered NGC 949 = H I-154 = h226 on 21 Sep 1786 (sweep 599) and logged (summary description) "cB, pL, E np to sf, vgmbM, 3' long, 2' broad." On 17 Jan 1787 (sweep 692) he recorded "cB, vgbM, lE, about 3' long and 3' broad." The galaxy was observed 5 times at Birr Castle. On 16 Oct 1855, R.J. Mitchell recorded "Oval, no Nucl, light pretty equable, major axis np-sf, clearly resolvable. I can at moments see some of its stars. B* at the south edge".

200/250mm - 8" (11/28/81): faint, small, slightly elongated NW-SE, weak concentration. Located 30' E of a mag 7 star.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/23/92): fairly bright, fairly large, elongated 5:2 NW-SE, fainter outer halo extends dimensions to 2.0'x0.8', broad concentration, no distinct core but brighter along major axis. A mag 14 star is at the SE tip. Located in a fairly rich star field. Member of the NGC 1023 Group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb