Lewis Swift discovered IC 996 = Sw. VII-43 on 3 Jul 1888 and reported "eeeF; S; vE; eee diff.; sf of 2 [with IC 995].

600/800mm - 24" (7/1/19): at 200x and 260x; fairly faint, fairly small, very thin edge-on at least 6:1 NW-SE, 50"x8", only a slightly brighter elongated core. Forms a similar pair with edge-on IC 995 13' NW. Situated on a line with a mag 12 star 2' N and a mag 10.5 star 3.7' S.

24" (6/3/19): at 322x; nearly fairly faint, moderately large, edge-on 6:1 NNW-SSE, 0.9'x0.15', fairly low even surface brightness. A mag 10.6 star is 3.7' S and a mag 12.4 star is 2' N. In a small group with IC 995 13' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb