Lewis Swift discovered IC 294 = Sw. VIII-19, along with IC 290, 292, 293 and 295, on 11 Sep 1888 and recorded "vF; pS; iR; in finder field with Algol." Barnard independently found this galaxy (along with IC 292 and 293) while sweeping near Algol on 23 Nov 1888 and noted "faint, moderately size, follows several stars." Barnard send the discovery notice directly to Dreyer at some point resulting in the designation IC 1889.

Swift placed IC 295 close southeast, but there is nothing there. IC 296 = Sw. VIII-21, discovered by Swift just 3 nights later, is perhaps another observation (position matches and nothing else nearby he might have picked up, except for faint stars). So, IC 294 = IC 296 = IC 1889 (and perhaps IC 295!). CGCG labels this galaxy as IC 296 while MCG and RC3 lists it as IC 294.

600/800mm - 24" (1/1/16): at 375x; fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 E-W, 24"x18", weak concentration. Three similar stars are near; a mag 14.5 star is 0.6' NW, a mag 14 star is 1.4' WNW and another mag 14 star is 1.1' WSW. IC 292 lies 13' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb