Stephane Javelle discovered IC 1730 = J. 3-891 on 17 Jan 1896 and noted "F, nearly round, 20" to 25", gradually condensed." His position is 2' too far north, which Malcolm Thomson notes is due to an error in the position of his BD reference star.

400/500mm - 18" (11/22/03): very faint, extremely small, round, 10" diameter. Located 3.5' NE of NGC 680 and 1' SSE of a mag 12 star. Member of the NGC 697 group (also called the NGC 691 group).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb