HCG 51B = MCG +04-27-026 appeared very faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 N-S, 0.9'x0.6', very weak concentration. Larger of close pair with IC 2759 1.0' N, though has a significantly lower surface brightness. Modern catalogues misidentify this galaxy as IC 2759.

Guillaume Bigourdan discovered IC 2759 = B. 405 on 24 Apr 1897 and noted "strong stellar object that appears accompanied by nebulosity; a mag 13 star at p = 300 °, d = 2'.5." His position is close to HCG 51B and 51E (similar in brightness). Based on my visual observation I suggested to Harold Corwin that IC 2759 = HCG 51E = CGCG 126-041 and he confirmed this identification based on Bigourdan's micrometric offsets from NGC 3651. Modern catalogues (CGCG, PGC, UGC, MCG, RC3 and secondary sources such as Megastar) misidentify CGCG 126-040 = HCG 51B as IC 2759.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/11/96): faint, very small, round, 20" diameter, moderate surface brightness. This member of HCG 51 forms a close pair with HCG 51B = MCG +04-27-026 1.0' S. A mag 13 star lies 2.0' NW. Located 3.2' NW of brightest member NGC 3651.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/18/15): at 488x; moderately bright, small, round, 18" diameter, sharply concentrated with a small bright core. First of 7 in HCG 51 with HCG 51B 1.0' S.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb