Lewis Swift discovered IC 411 = Sw. VIII-39 on 2 Feb 1889, along with IC 408, while using a 12-inch refractor at Lick Observatory during a visit to E.E. Barnard. His description reads "vF; pS; R." and the position (measured by Barnard) is within 45" of ESO 486-056. See IC 408 for more on his observation at Lick.

600/800mm - 24" (2/13/18): at 375x; fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated NW-SE, 35"x25". The surface brightness is moderate and fairly even. A number of brighter stars are in the field, particularly to the east. Located 16' SE of mag 7.0 HD 34867. IC 2121 lies 21' NNW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb