400/500mm - 17.5" (8/22/98): using a GSC finder chart, either HCG 81A or the combined glow of two or more galaxies was seen as an extremely faint glow. At moments it appeared elongated or possibly double, though observation was difficult in windy conditions. Forms the southern vertex of an equilateral triangle with two mag 12.5 stars 2.7' N and 2.7' NW.

600/800mm - 24" (7/6/13): HCG 81A appeared as an extremely faint to very faint knot, very small, round, 12" diameter, stellar nucleus. At the north end of the small HCG 81 quartet with HCG 81 C/D (single glow) 35" SSE and HCG 81B 51" S. Forms the southeast vertex of an equilateral triangle with two mag 12.5/13 stars 2.5' N and WNW. HCG 81C/D appeared as a single (merged?) very faint glow, very small, irregularly round, ~12" diameter. HCG 81B at the south end of the chain appeared very faint, extremely small, round, 10" diameter. CGCG 80-2 (brighter than the individual components of HCG 81) lies 5' S.

24" (6/16/12): HCG 81A and similar 81B were the only two members of this extremely compact quartet that were clearly resolved at times. At 322x, both appeared extremely faint and small, round, 8" diameter. Although not resolved, HCG 81C and D appeared as an extremely faint glow ~20" NNE of 81B and the "clump" of 81B/C/D was more evident than 81A. The entire quartet spans 51" N-S with 81A at the north end and 81B at the south end. Two mag 12.5 stars 2.5' NNW and 2.5' WNW form an equilateral triangle with the group and are helpful with pinpointing the location.