Rudolph Spitaler discovered IC 749 = Spitaler 46, along with IC 750, on 22 Apr 1892 using the 27-inch Grubb refractor at the Vienna Observatory. A month later he found (or first measured) IC 751 and 752 (just south).

300/350mm - 13.1" (3/17/86): fairly faint, moderately large, diffuse glow, no central brightening, slightly elongated NNW-SSE. Forms a pretty pair with IC 750 3.3' E. Located 3.0' NE of mag 8.6 SAO 43979.

600/800mm - 24" (5/11/13): moderately bright, large, slightly elongated ~N-S, 1.3'x1.1', diffuse appearance with an ill-defined halo due to low surface brightness around periphery. But the surface brightness is irregular or mottled with a very small, slightly brighter nucleus and an impression of spiral structure. Forms a contrasting pair with IC 750 3.4' ESE. The SDSS image resolves the spiral arms into numerous blue HII regions and that probably contributed to the visual impression of mottling. Mag 8.9 HD 103954 lies 3.1' SW. Member of the NGC 4111 group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb