E.E. Barnard discovered IC 1535, along with IC 1534 and 1536 on 6 Jul 1888 while sweeping with the 12-inch refractor at Lick Observatory. See IC 1534 for more.

Based on a 60-inch Mt. Wilson photograph, described by Pease (1920) as "Spiral, 45"x15", p.a. 168°, gbM, very small almost stellar nucleus."

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/31/86): faint, small, elongated ~N-S, even surface brightness, very diffuse. A mag 11 star is 1.5' W. Second of three IC galaxies in the NGC 51 group with IC 1534 2.0' WSW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb