Lewis Swift discovered IC 1729 = Sw. XI-24 on 8 Oct 1896 and noted "pB; eeS; almost stellar; in vacancy." Using the 20-inch refractor at the Chamberlin Observatory in Denver, Howe measured an accurate position and noted, "this looks resolvable, and is equivalent in brightness to a star of mag 10-11. It is very small."

400/500mm - 18" (12/17/11): at 285x appeared moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NNW-SSE, 30"x20". Sharply concentrated with a very small, very bright core that increases to a stellar nucleus. ESO 477-008 lies 24' SE.

18" (12/18/06): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NNW-SSE, 0.6'x0.4', gradually increases to center. This galaxy appears to have a high surface brightness as if I was viewing the core region only (verified on the DSS). Located 9' SSE of mag 8.9 HD 11020 near the corner where Cetus, Fornax and Sculptor meet.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb