Lewis Swift discovered IC 951 = Sw. VII-40 on 6 May 1888 and recorded "eeF; pS; R; coarse D[ouble] * nr sp." His position is 2.5' SSE of UGC 8775 and his "coarse double star" is probably a wide pair 4' SSW.

600/800mm - 24" (6/30/19): at 200x; moderately bright and moderately large, irregularly round, 50" diameter, slightly brighter core, hint of spiral structure in halo. At 322x, the brighter core/nucleus was more evident and the halo displayed slightly more structure but no clear spiral arms.

24" (6/3/19): at 322x; fairly faint, moderately large, irregularly round, at least 45" diameter, very weak concentration. Chameleon-like appearance; shifts appearance with averted vision and sometimes slightly brighter regions appear, like arcs of spiral arms. Located 10' S of mag 8.7 HD 121047.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb