E.E. Barnard discovered IC 4955, along with IC 4954, on 9 Jun 1888 with the 12-inch refractor at Lick Observatory. He noted "found a fine nebulous star of 12 mag."

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/26/92): at 140x appears as the larger and slightly brighter of a pair of reflection nebulae with IC 4954 4'' NW. Surrounds a mag 12 star, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, 1' diameter. A line of three mag 13.5 stars is close southeast. No contrast enhancement with OIII or Deep Sky filter.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb