Max Wolf discovered IC 3864 = W. VI-80, along with several other faint IC galaxies within AGC 1638, on a Heidelberg plate taken 27 Jan 1904. He reported "vF, vS, iF, * 14 s 30"; many other neb about."

900/1200mm - 48" (4/2/11): IC 3864 is one of the very faintest entries in the entire IC. This galaxy is located at the west end of AGC 1638 in a 5' oval group containing a half-dozen members of AGC 1638. Extremely faint and small, 5" diameter. A brighter mag 16.4 star lies 30" S.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb