Herbert Howe discovered IC 1557 = Ho III-1 on 6 Nov 1899 with the 20-inch refractor at the Chamberlin Observatory in Denver. While observing and measuring NGC 161 (discovered by Swift), he mentions "I noticed another nebula 2' south of 161." In his list of new nebula (MNRAS 60, 611, 1900), Howe adds "eF, vS" and "attended by a star of mag 14, a trifle south, and by another, which follows the nebula closely." Although his position is accurate, the MCG, PGC, RNGC, HyperLeda and Roger Sinnott's NGC 2000.0 incorrectly equate NGC 161 with IC 1557. The original error was likely made in the MCG.

600/800mm - 24" (10/6/18): at 260x; faint, very small, round, 12" diameter. Forms a pair with brighter and larger NGC 161 1.7' N. A mag 12.5 star lies 1.2' W. A mag 15.6 star is 40" S, in line with the two galaxies and a mag 12 star 1' N of NGC 161.

24" (11/24/14): faint, very small, round, 12" diameter. Situated 1.2' E of a mag 12.5 star and 1.7' S of brighter NGC 161.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb