Stephane Javelle discovered IC 51 = J. 1-33 on 30 Aug 1892 with the 30-inch refractor at the Nice Observatory. He recorded "pB, S, bM, slightly mottled."

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/11/99): at 280x, faint, fairly small, round, 0.6' diameter. A mag 15 star is just off the SW edge [52" from center]. Located 28' E of mag 7.6 SAO 147425.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb