Lewis Swift discovered IC 1031 = Sw. VII-46 on 6 May 1888 and recorded "eeeF; S; R; nearly pointed to by 2 D st., 1st of 3 [with IC 1032 and 1033]." His RA was 12 seconds too large (copied into the IC), but the identification is certain. Howe measured an accurate position in his series of NGC/IC observations around 1900.

600/800mm - 24" (6/15/15): faint to fairly faint, small, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, 0.3'x0.2'. A mag 15.2 star lies 40" NE. First of 3 (WBL 515) with IC 1032 4.9' SE and IC 1033 6.7' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb