Lewis Swift discovered IC 872 = Sw. X-21, along with IC 877, 878 and 880, on 28 Apr 1891 and recorded "eeF; pS; R lbM; 1st of 5; 5060 in field = 2nd of 5; ee diff." His position falls 2' NW of UGC 8361, though this galaxy is northeast of NGC 5060. Malcolm Thomson accepts this identification for IC 872. But Corwin suggests UGC 8349, which is 1.2 minutes of RA west of Swift's position. This is a brighter galaxy and it lies NNW of NGC 5060. So, both of these galaxies are candidates. To further muddy the situation, there are no galaxies at all near the position of IC 877, 878 and 880. Did Swift misidentify the field completely, so it didn't contain NGC 5060? In any case, both UGC 8349 and 8361 are candidates.

600/800mm - 24" (6/21/20): at 375x; fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated NW-SE, ~40"x35", broad concentration with a brighter middle but no distinct core. A faint mag 15.4/16.2 pair at 12" separation (cleanly resolved) is 1.2' ESE.

CGCG 44-54, located 45" NE, appeared faint, very small, round, 15" diameter, even surface brightness. A mag 14.5 star is 45" NE.

UGC 8361, located 19' E (and much closer to the IC 872 position), appeared fairly faint, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, 40"x20", small bright core, occasional stellar nucleus. A mag 14.9 star is 44" NW.

24" (6/16/20): at 260x; fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated NW-SE, 30" diameter, slightly brighter core. A mag 15.4 star is 1.2' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb