Arnold Schwassmann discovered IC 3476 = Sn. 288 on 22 Nov 1900 using a plate taken by Wolf with the 6" astrograph at the Königstuhl Observatory in Heidelberg. Royal Frost also reported it on a plate taken at the Arequipa station on 10 May 1904. He noted "Fan-shaped, 1.0' by 0.5', bM (Sch 288)." Finally it was also discovered on plates taken with the Crossley reflector in 1898-1900, but not reported until 1908 (Publications of Lick Observatory, Vol VIII) as #464 of 744 new nebulae.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/25/87): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated ~N-S. Appears diffuse with just a weak concentration. Forms a pair with IC 3478 8' N.

600/800mm - 24" (5/20/17): at 200x; fairly faint, moderately large, irregularly round, elongated ~4:3 SSW-NNE, 1.0'x0.7'. Uneven surface brightness or knotty, very weak central brighening with no distinct core or nucleus. Located 25' SSE of M88. IC 3478 lies 8.8' N.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/5/13): at 488x, this irregular galaxy appeared bright, fairly large, irregular, elongated ~2:1 SSW-NNE. Unusual asymmetric appearance with an extension to the southwest, which includes a small HII knot (possibly double), roughly 0.6' SW of center. The overall size is roughly 1.5'x0.8'. The noted HII region was the site of SN 1970A. Located 25' SSE of M88.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb