Lewis Swift discovered IC 3986 = Sw. XI-147 on 31 Jan 1898 and reported "eeF; pS; R; 10m * nr nf." His RA is over 1.0 minute west of ESO 443-032, which is not unusual for his discoveries during his last year of observing. But there is no brighter star near, casting doubt on this identification. A good candidate is ESO 443-024, which is 10' south of Swift's position and 30 seconds of RA east. A mag 10.5 star is nearby (as well as a closer mag 11.5 star), although the closer star is north-northwest, not northeast. Still, assuming he mixed up the direction, ESO 443-024 is somewhat brighter and a better candidate. I suggested this identification to Harold Corwin in April 2016 and he agreed.

300/350mm - 14" (4/4/16 - Coonabaraban, 178x): moderately bright to fairly bright, fairly small, slightly elongated NNW-SSE, 40"x30", small bright nucleus. A mag 11.6 star is 1.2' NW of center, a mag 11.1 star is 2' WNW and a mag 7.9 star is 10' SE. A 5' string of stars extends to the south-southwest. HCG 63 lies 25' SE.

This galaxy is the brightest member of the galaxy group LGG 324, which includes three members of HCG 63 as well as ESO 443-032 (identified as IC 3986 in modern sources) 11' NE. ESO 443-032 appeared fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated, 35"x30", contains a small bright nucleus. ESO 443-029, just 4.8' NE (a member of more distant AGC 3537) was very faint, small, round, 25" diameter, low surface brightness.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/22/93): fairly faint, small, round, weak concentration, crisp-edged. Forms part of the "Bowl" of a "Dipper" asterism formed by an 8' group of stars mostly to the south. HCG 63 lies 25' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb