Max Wolf discovered IC 417 on 25 Sep 1892 on a Heidelberg plate. In AN 3130 (131), p159, he noted a "vast nebula envelopes the star cluster" and his position is within the cluster.

200/250mm - 8" (12/6/80): faint nebulosity involved with three stars mag 9-11 including ∑707 = 9.7/11.4 at 18". The brightest portion is located 8' SE of Phi Aurigae (V = 5.1). Embedded in the open cluster Stock 8.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/9/02): this large HII region encases the open cluster Stock 8 and is situated ~6' SE of 5th magnitude Phi Aurigae. At 140x, the cluster consists of 40-50 stars including two mag 10 (the brightest is the wide double ∑707 = 9.7/11.4 at 18") and numerous mag 12-14 stars. With a UHC filter (or OIII filter at 100x), the cluster is encased in a moderately bright glow, ~8'x5'. The nebulosity is brightest in a triangular wedge, tapering towards the south with the two mag 10 stars oriented N-S (2' separation) along the western boundary. The glow is irregular but has a fairly sharp border along the western edge.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb