Lewis Swift discovered IC 309 = Sw. VIII-26 on 11 Sep 1888 and recorded "eeF; pS; R; bet 2 st."
400/500mm - 17.5" (1/7/89): faint, small, round, even surface brightness. Situated between two mag 12 stars 1' NW and 1.4' SE. UGC 2617 lies 5' NNW but was not seen. Member of AGC 426.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb