Lewis Swift discovered IC 2627 = Sw. XI-120 on 10 Apr 1898 and reported "eF; L; R; sev st in L semi circle n, in finder field with Beta Crateris." Herbert Howe noted it has "a stellar nucleus of mag 13.5." This was discovered in the last couple of months of Swift's observing career.

400/500mm - 18" (3/29/03): fairly large, but fairly faint roundish glow. The surface brightness was irregular at 300x with a patchy appearance (face-on spiral with an asymmetrically brighter arm and knotty appearance on the DSS). Located 8.4' ESE of mag 9.9 SAO 179590.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/20/17): fairly bright, fairly large, asymmetric face-on spiral. IC 2627 has a very lopsided appearance with one long, prominent arm and a second arm that is shorter and less contrasty. The central section consisted of a bright, oval core highlighted by a stellar nucleus. A strong, knotty arm emerged on the southeast side of the core and gracefully unfurled counterclockwise towards the west on the south side. It significantly faded just east of a mag 16 star [50" WSW of center]. With averted vision, though, the arm could be followed about 1' further north of this star, but the surface brightness was extremely low. The second arm was more subtle and seemed detached from the core. It extended E-W, ~30" length, on the north side of the core and displayed a sharp northern edge. Several mag 16.5 stars were superimposed or nearby.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb