Truman Safford discovered IC 1392 = Sf 50 on 12 Sep 1866 with the 18.5-inch refractor at the Dearborn Observatory and recorded "pB, vmbM, nebulous *." His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/11/96): fairly faint, small, elongated 5:3 SW-NE, 0.8'x0.5', moderately high surface brightness with a brighter core. Situated within a short string of three stars with a mag 12.5 star 0.9' NNE and two mag 12 stars 0.8' and 1.2' SSW. The further southern star has a mag 15 companion close following [9" separation] and there are also two mag 14.5-15.5 stars following the nearer mag 12 star off the south side. Forms a pair with faint UGC 11775 4.2' SE.

17.5" (7/16/93): fairly faint, small, elongated 3:2 WSW-ENE, 0.6'x 0.4'. A mag 13 star is 0.9' NNE of center.

600/800mm - 24" (10/18/12): fairly bright, moderately large, oval 4:3 WSW-ENE, 0.7'x0.45'. Sharply concentrated with a high surface brightness 25" core and quasi-stellar nucleus. The outer halo is much fainter and extends ~45". A mag 12.8 star is 50" NE and a similar mag 12.5 star is 40" SW. Several additional stars including a close double are off the SW side. UGC 11775 lies 4.2' SE (attached to a star).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb