Rudolph Spitaler discovered IC 698 = Spitaler 39, along with IC 696 and 699, on 31 Mar 1892. His micrometric position is accurate.
400/500mm - 17.5" (2/28/87): fairly faint, fairly small, oval NW-SE, brighter core. Brightest in the IC 698 group and 3rd of 4 brighter galaxies with IC 696 6.0' WSW.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb