John Herschel discovered IC 344 = h305 = LM(S) 163 = Sw. IX-13 on 17 Oct 1827 and simply recorded "the first of 3 [with H II-455 and H II-456]". His position matches MCG -01-10-020 = PGC 13568, although he assumed this nebula was identical with H. III-569 = NGC 1397. As a result both the GC (756) and NGC (1397) misidentify h305 as H III-569. h305 (later IC 344) did not receive a separate NGC designation and it's his only discovery with an IC designation. This galaxy was also observed at Birr Castle, though also missed on several occasions.

Lewis Swift independently found the galaxy on 23 Dec 1889 and reported Sw. IX-13 as "eeF; pL; R; passed in line with 1417-18; cometary; unable to refind it; seeing good. Failed also at Harvard College Observatory [during a visit]." Swift published a note in AN 126, 225 that "in description of nebula no. 13 for "passed" read "1st of 3". Calling attention to apparently so trivial a matter may seen unimportant, but it has more significance than at first sight appears, as I strongly suspect it to have been a comet, as at two subsequent examinations it could not be found. It was in in line with NGC 1417 and 1418 and all three were seen simultaneously." Swift gave an even more detailed review of this object in Astronomy and Astro-Physics (formerly Popular Astronomy, 11 (1892), so he clearly put a lot of effort and time on it. Frank Muller also found IC 344 in late 1887 while measuring positions for NGC 1417 and 1418. Dreyer credited both JH (h305) and Swift in the IC. Sherburne Burnham measured IC 344 (Publ of Lick Observatory, II) and correctly sorted out the confusion with JH's observation.

300/350mm - 13.1" (12/7/85): first of three on a line with NGC 1417 and NGC 1418. Extremely faint, round, very diffuse. Detectable with averted vision only 20% of time. Located 7.3' WNW of NGC 1417.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb