R.J. Mitchell discovered IC 1066 = J. 1-324, along with IC 1067, on 16 May 1855 using LdR's 72". He assumed he was observing the double system NGC 5765, but his description and sketch clearly refers to the IC pair. He recorded "2 neb with 3 B st near, both F, bM. The north one has a double star close sp, and is E np sf; the s one is perhaps also slightly E sp nf." A diagram in the 1880 publication is a perfect match with IC 1066 and IC 1067 (close northeast of a double star). The pair of galaxies was found again on 3 May 1856 while searching for NGC 5775! Dreyer realized that Mitchell's pair was different than NGC 5775, but without a position he wasn't able to include it in the NGC.

Stephane Javelle found the galaxy again on 28 May 1891, measured an accurate position, and it was catalogued as IC 1066. Javelle is credited in the IC, as the connection with the Birr Castle sketch was never made.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/18/93): faint, small, elongated 4:3 WSW-ENE, almost even surface brightness, weak concentration. A wide pair of mag 11 and 13 stars at 40" separation are about 1.5' ESE. Forms a close pair with IC 1067 2.2' NNE. In the same 140x field (using a 14mm Nagler) with NGC 5774 and 5775 20' NE.

600/800mm - 24" (6/23/17): at 375x; fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:3 WSW-ENE, ~40"x24". Occasionally appears slightly brighter along the major axis. An 11th mag star is 2' E with a 13th mag star is 1.3' ESE. Forms a nice pair with IC 1067 2.3' NNE.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/19/17): bright, moderately large, oval 5:3 WSW-ENE, ~0.8'x0.5'. Contains a small, very bright nucleus. A mag 11 star is 1.8' E, a mag 12.5 star is 1.2' ESE and a mag 16.6 star lies 0.9' N. Forms a bright pair with IC 1067 2.2' NNE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb