Francis Leavenworth discovered IC 1308 = LM(S) 791 on 18 Jun 1887 with the 26-inch refractor at the Leander McCormick observatory. Leavenworth missed seeing the galaxy but picked up the two bright HII regions at the north end of the galaxy instead. Apparently, NGC 6822 was assumed to be the HII region Hubble V close preceding IC 1308 (Leavenworth credited both objects to Barnard) as the IC description for 1308 reads "eF, eS, lE, gbM, 6822 p 12s" (which actually refers to Hubble V). E.E. Barnard independently discovered the two HII regions on 7 Jul 1888 with the 12-inch refractor at Lick Observatory.

Although the IC position matches this HII region and Howe also reobserved it and noted the double star close SE, Paul Hodge didn't label it as IC 1308 in "The HII regions of NGC 6822", P.A.S.P. 100:917-934, Aug 1988 or in "A Catalogue of diffuse nebula and emission-line stars in NGC 6822", 94:444-452, June 1982. But Hubble's seminal 1925 paper on NGC 6822 (http://cdsads.u-strasbg.fr/full/1925ApJ....62..409H), mentions nebula X is identical to IC 1308.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/1/02): the eastern of two HII regions at the north end of Barnard's galaxy. Easily visible with averted vision at 220x without a filter and there is mild contrast gain using an OIII filter at 140x.

17.5" (7/14/99): following of a pair of HII regions with Hubble V at the north end of NGC 6822 = Barnard's Galaxy. Visible with direct vision at 220x and 280x without a filter. There was a mild contrast gain using a UHC filter at these magnifications.

17.5" (8/21/98): easily visible at 220x without a filter as a 30" round knot along with Hubble V just 3.1' W. Because I had no problem viewing this HII region without filtration I didn't blink or use an OIII filter.

17.5" (5/10/91): HII region on the NE edge of NGC 6822. At 82x and OIII filter appears as a faint, very small but clearly nebulous round knot. Estimate mag 14. A mag 12 star lies 2' SE (very close double on the POSS). Not seen without a filter. Forms a pair with similar Hubble V just 3' W.

900/1200mm - 48" (5/16/12): bright, fairly small, irregularly round. At ~30", this HII knot is slightly larger than Hubble V and more uniform in surface brightness but the brighter portions of Hubble V have a higher surface brightness. This is the easternmost of four HII knots along the northern side of Barnard's Galaxy.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb