NGC 1851 is a very neglected globular cluster in Columba. This is somewhat surprising as with a magnitude of 7.2, it is easily visible in the smallest of telescopes. It is situated in a rather barren region of the sky, about 8 degrees south-east of beta columbae and about 19 degrees south of beta lepii.
In a small telescope, it appears as a small circular patch of light, not unlike a small comet. In an 8" telescope, some resolution of the outer regions is achieved.