Lewis Swift discovered IC 712 = Sw. IX-31 on 11 May 1890 and recorded "eeF; S; R; pB * nr nf. 4th of 4 [with IC 708, 709 and 711]."

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/22/95): fairly faint, small, round, 0.6' diameter. Even concentration to a small bright core and stellar nucleus. Located 1.9' SSW of mag 8.4 SAO 43812. Located in the core of galaxy cluster AGC 1314 with IC 711 7.3' S and IC 709 6.1' SW and brightest member IC 708 8.2' WSW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb