Stephane Javelle discovered IC 1488 = J. 2-801 on 2 Dec 1893 and recorded "extremely faint, very small, elongated in the meridian [north-south]. Very difficult." In a note he added "distinct from NGC 7653 which was measured." There is nothing at his computed position 3' N of NGC 7653. Because NGC 7653 is the closest reasonably bright galaxy, MCG and PGC equated IC 1488 with NGC 7653 and UGC states IC 1488 = NGC 7653? But Harold Corwin uncovered that Javelle misidentified his offset star, which was BD +14 4986. Once corrected his offset points to IC 1488 = LEDA 2800840.

600/800mm - 24" (9/29/16): at 375x; faint to fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 or 7:2 ~N-S, ~30"x9", contains a very small or stellar nucleus. Located 12.8' ENE of NGC 7653. Outlying member on the northern side of AGC 2593.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb