Lewis Swift discovered IC 2231 = Sw. XI-92 on 23 Mar 1895 and recorded "eeeF; vS; lE; v close f[ollowing] 12m *; fine D * nf nearly point to it." His position is 2' too far west, but there is no question about the identification. This was the earliest date that Swift made discoveries (along with IC 2972 and 2974) at Lowe Observatory in southern California.

600/800mm - 24" (3/28/17): at 260x; fairly faint, moderately large, slightly elongated, 45"x40". Contains a very small, brighter nucleus, possibly stellar. Unusual appearance with a mag 13.4 star superimposed on the west edge with galaxy extending mostly east of the star.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb