Stephane Javelle discovered IC 1438 = J. 1-466, along with IC 1439, on 20 Jul 1892.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/25/95): moderately bright, moderately large, round, 1.5' diameter, even concentration to a bright core and faint, stellar nucleus. A nearly perfect rectangle of mag 13 stars with sides of 2'x1.5' precedes by 4'. Forms a pair with IC 1439 4.2' SE.

600/800mm - 24" (8/16/12): fairly bright, fairly large, sharply concentrated with a small very bright 20" core. The core is surrounded by a large, roundish halo with a fairly even surface brightness, ~1.5' diameter. IC 1439 lies 4.2' SE and UGCA 427 is 12' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb