Lewis Swift discovered IC 438 = Sw. X-15 on 7 Jan 1891 and recorded "eeF; pS; E in meridian; wide D * nr preceding." He found it again on 7 Oct 1897 and described Sw. XI-88 as "vF; pL; R; v wide D * near p[receding]." Howe noted the equivalence in his survey of IC objects (Monthly Notices, Nov. 1900) and also discovered nearby IC 2151.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/8/97): fairly faint, moderately large, nearly 2' diameter. Appears as a diffuse roundish glow with a very weak, broad concentration. A mag 14.5 star is attached at the NE end 1.0' from the center. A 1' pair of mag 10 stars precedes by 3.5'. Located 8' SSE of mag 8.6 SAO 150914. Forms a pair with IC 2151 7.7' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb