Rudolph Spitaler discovered IC 486 = Spitaler 12, along with IC 484 and IC 485, on 6 Mar 1891 with the 27" refractor at Vienna. Stephane Javelle independently discovered the galaxy on 2 Mar 1892 and measured an accurate position.

600/800mm - 24" (2/7/15): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated NW-SE, 18"x12", small brighter core. Brightest in a trio with IC 484 5.5' NW and IC 485 5.3' N. The trio, along with a few CGCG galaxies, from the small group WBL 165, and lies at a distance of ~380 million l.y.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb