Lewis Swift discovered IC 1623 = Sw. XI-12, along with IC 1622, on 19 Nov 1897 and logged "B; cS; lE; sf of 2 [with IC 1622]." His position is ~2.5' too far northwest, a similar error as IC 1622. The IC description was corrected to read "nf of 2".

600/800mm - 24" (10/5/13): Arp 236 = VV 114 is in Arp's category of "appearance of fission", though this contact pair is apparently undergoing a merger and the two nuclei are separated by only 15"! IC 1623A, the brighter western component, appeared fairly bright, fairly small, round, 25" diameter, high surface brightness. IC 1634B, attached on the east end, appeared as a fairly faint, small glow that not separately resolved, just a bulge or knot on the east end. 365x revealed a broad concentration with a brighter nucleus. Research reveals the IC 1634B is optically obscured but very bright in the infrared indicating intense star formation. IC 1622 lies 3.1' SW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb