Albert Marth discovered NGC 1026 = m 71 on 24 Dec 1864 with Lassell's 48" on Malta, noting "pF, S, R, psbM". His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/26/94): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 1.0' diameter, well concentrated with a small bright core and a stellar nucleus. A mag 11.5 star lies 2.8' S.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb