Lewis Swift discovered IC 171 = Sw. VIII-1 on 6 Sep 1888 and recorded "pB; pS; cE; * nr nf." His RA is 10 seconds too large but the identification is certain.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/19/87): fairly faint, slightly elongated ~E-W, 1.0'x0.8', weak central concentration, stellar nucleus. A mag 10 star is off the NE edge 45" from center. Almost collinear with a double star mag 12/13 at 18" located 2.5' W.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb