E.E. Barnard discovered IC 1536, along with IC 1534 and 1535 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 "9" diameter with amost stellar nucleus."

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/31/86): fourth of six in the NGC 51 group and the third of three IC galaxies with IC 1535 3.7' WNW and IC 1534 5.6' W. Very faint, very small, slightly elongated, faint stellar nucleus. A group of four mag 12 -13 stars is just north with the closest star 47" NW of center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb