IC 724 is the brightest in a small group (USGC U411) with IC 722 12.7' WNW. CGCG 068-038, located 13.5' WSW, appeared faint, small, round, 20" diameter, low even surface brightness.

Rudolph Spitaler discovered IC 724 = Spitaler 45, along with IC 722, on 25 Mar 1892. His position is poor because he misidentified his offset star according to Harold Corwin, but his description clearly pins down the correct galaxies.

600/800mm - 28" (4/12/18): at 285x; fairly bright, fairly large, oval 5:2 SW-NE, ~1.3'x0.5'. Contains a prominent elongated core and very small bright nucleus.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb