Lewis Swift discovered IC 1259 = Sw. VII-90, along with IC 1258, on 19 Jul 1887 and logged "pB; pS; R; nf of 2 [with IC 1258]." Swift didn't resolve this double system.

400/500mm - 18" (6/7/08): at 260x this double system (Arp 310) appeared faint, very small, ~20" diameter, quasi-stellar nucleus. VV 101b, an extremely small (~10" diameter) companion, was barely resolved off the west edge of the brighter eastern component (VV 101a). Also, a very faint mag 15 star is often visible at the SE edge. IC 1258 (part of Arp 311) is just 2.2' SW. Located 45" SW of a mag 12 star.

600/800mm - 24" (7/22/14): at 375x, the merged contact pair IC 1259 (15" between centers) was a striking sight. VV 101a, the larger and brighter eastern component, appeared fairly faint, small, round, 18" diameter. A mag 15 star is at the southeast edge, just 10" from center. VV 101b, the western component, appeared very faint, extremely small, 8" x 5" SW-NE. A mag 12 star lies 0.8' NE. IC 1258 lies 2.2' SW and IC 1260 is 2.5' SSE!

24" (8/15/12): fascinating tight double system and superimposed star at 375x. The main component appeared fairly faint, small, round, 20" diameter. VV 101b is attached at the west edge of the halo, 15" between centers. It appeared very faint, extremely small, 10" diameter. A mag 15 star is attached at the SE edge, just 10" from center! A mag 12 star lies 0.8' NE. IC 1258 lies 2.2' SW, IC 1260 is 2.5' SSE and PGC 2579433 is 2.5' SE. The group is located ~13' SE of mag 6.5 HD 158485.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb