William Herschel discovered NGC 987 = H III-161 = h237 on 12 Sep 1784 (sweep 268) and logged "vF, S, irregularly extended, resolvable". John Herschel observed this galaxy on two sweeps, recording on 11 Nov 1827 (sweep 100):"vF; R; S; bM; 2 st 14m np point to it."

300/350mm - 13.1" (11/29/86): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated SW-NE, small bright core. Located 26' N of mag 6.3 SAO 55711.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb