Stephane Javelle discovered IC 602 = J. 2-673, along with IC 601, on 10 Apr 1893. IC 602 may be identical to NGC 3186. See that number for the story.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/25/00): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 N-S, 0.8'x0.4', small bright core. A mag 12 star is just off the SW end. A group of 4 stars (trapezoid outline) is 4' NE. Forms a pair with much fainter IC 601 1.3' SW (see notes). MCG +01-26-032 (identified as NGC 3186 in RNGC) lies 11' SW.

17.5" (3/22/96): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated N-S, 0.8'x0.6'. A mag 12.5-13 star is just off the SW side 35" from center. A nearly square asterism of mag 11.5-14 stars with sides ~1.5' lies 4' NE. Forms a pair with IC 601 1.3' SW (not seen).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb