Edward Swift, Lewis' 20 year-old son, discovered IC 663 = Sw. X-18, along with IC 664, on 29 Mar 1891. The description reads "eeF; pS; R; triangle with 2 F st; 1st of 3; NGC 3492 in field." Stephane Javelle independently found this galaxy again at the Nice Observatory on 1 Mar 1892 and reported it in list 1-190.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/25/98): extremely faint and small, round, 15" diameter, required averted vision. This is the third brightest of four galaxies viewed in the core of AGC 1142. Located 6.4' SW of NGC 3492, midway between a mag 10.5 star 3.2' N and a mag 13 star 2.2' S.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb