Frank Muller discovered IC 223 = LM(S) 71 = Big. 135 on 19 Nov 1887 with the 26-inch refractor at the Leander McCormick. It was recorded as #71 in the 1893 catalogue of "Southern Nebulae" with the description "iR, sbM, stell nucleus?" Bigourdan independently discovered it on 1 Dec 1888. The IC position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/4/93): faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NW-SE, broad concentration. Forms an isosceles triangle with a mag 11.5 star 1.8' N and a mag 12.5 star 2.5' ENE. Forms a pair with NGC 899 5' SSW. NGC 907 lies 14' ENE.

600/800mm - 24" (10/3/13): fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, oval 3:2 NW-SE, broad concentration, 30"x20". Forms the vertex of a triangle with a mag 11.5 star 1.8' N and a mag 12.5 star 2.5' ENE. Second in a trio (KTS 16) with brighter NGC 899 5' SSW and NGC 907 14' ENE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb