Stephane Javelle discovered IC 270 = J. 1-103, along with IC 272, on 1 Dec 1891 with the 29-inch refractor at the Nice Observatory. His position matches MCG -02-08-028. IC 270 and IC 272 appear to be the brightest in a cluster of faint galaxies (or superimposed on a more distant cluster). IC 270 was the host of SN 2004go.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/17/98): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:3 SW-NE, ~0.9'x0.6'. Forms the northeast vertex of a small trapezium with three mag 12 stars 1.0' SW, 1.5' WNW and 2.2' SW. Forms a pair with IC 272 5.5' ENE. NGC 1158, which is a fainter galaxy, lies 24' SE.

600/800mm - 24" (12/20/17): at 375x; fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated SW-NE, 45"x35". Contains a bright core that gradually increases to the center. A mag 14.6 star is at the southwest edge. Situated close east of an isosceles triangle of mag 11.2/11.8 and 12.6 stars [sides 1.3', 1.7', 1.7']. In a quartet with IC 272 5.5' ENE and IC 268 and 269 ~8' NNW. IC 270 appears to the brightest in a larger group at a mean z = .03 (distance ~400 million l.y.) including NGCs 1150, 1151, 1157 and 1158.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb