Lewis Swift discovered IC 1498 = Sw. X-55 on 5 Nov 1891. He reported "eeF; pS; R; 9 1/2 * p 36 sec, s 3' 15"; D[ouble] * s points to 11m * f[ollowing] neb 7 sec; another 11m * f neb 14 sec; not 7962 [NGC 7692]; seeing poor; could not find 7962." His unusually detailed description describes the surrounding field very accurately and his position is also just off the northwest side of the galaxy.

600/800mm - 24" (9/22/17): at 375x; moderately bright, moderately large, very elongated 3:1 ~N-S, 60"x20", slight brighter core, surface brightness somewhat irregular. Located 14' ENE of mag 8 HD 221296.

24" (9/29/16): at 200x; fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, very elongated 5:2 N-S, 45"x18", brighter core. Located 9.5' NE of mag 9.4 SAO 146750. IC 5334 lies 50' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb