E.E. Barnard discovered IC 2311 = Ho I-8 visually on 27 Jan 1889 using the 12-inch refractor at Lick Observatory. It was found sweeping along with NGC 2566, which was described as "the S. of 2, roundish, pB, two stars involved." IC 2311 was noted as "the N one is pB, S, R, stellar nucleus (?). It is 1/2 [150 dia field = 8'] north of the above neb. They are both among scattered stars." He later added the note "one of these is new - the other probably = NGC 2566."

Herbert Howe independently rediscovered this galaxy on 16 Feb 1898 with the 20-inch Clark Refractor at Chamberlin Observatory in Colorado. He noted "pB, vS, R, lbM, 6' n of NGC 2566" and measured an accurate position. Barnard apparently never notified Dreyer (along with other discoveries) and Howe is credited with the discovery in the IC, though Barnard's observation was 9 years earlier.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/25/95): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 1.2' diameter. Even concentration to a small bright core and stellar nucleus. Located in a rich star field 2.3' SE of a mag 10.5 star. Just south is a 10' distinctive semicircle of stars leading to NGC 2566 located 7.6' S. Second brightest member of the Klemola 10 quartet (2 fainter E-galaxies to the SW not seen).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb