Stephane Javelle discovered IC 1638 = J. 3-839, along with IC 1636, on 17 Oct 1903 and recorded "F, R, 15" to 20", gbMN, stellar ncl 13m, granular."

400/500mm - 18" (10/16/09): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 25" diameter. Appears as a high surface brightness knot. IC 1636 lies 9' W. Located 8' W of a mag 8.5 star. Member of the NGC 410 group.

600/800mm - 24" (8/29/19): at 375x; fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, ~30"x25", small brighter core, occasional faint stellar nucleus. A mag 8.5 star (SAO 54517) is 8' E. IC 1636 lies 9' W, with IC 1638 nearly at the midpoint. Located 22' NE of NGC 410 in a group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb