William Herschel discovered NGC 1129 = H II-602 = h271 on 17 Oct 1786 (sweep 614) and logged "F, pS, iR, lbM." John Herschel wrote on 18 Sep 1828 (sweep 182), "vF; R vglbM; 30" diameter." Their positions match UGC 2373 = PGC 10959, the brightest member of a cluster. MCG +07-07-003 is superimposed on its southwest side.

Using the 72" in Oct 1854, R.J. Mitchell noted "has either a F* sp or is double". This refers to MCG +07-07-003, which MCG misidentified this galaxy as NGC 1129. In December, he noted "suspect the supposed neb close sp edge to be only a faint double star. Finally in Dec 1855, Mitchell observed with Lord Rosse, who "thought the companion on sp edge to be merely a neb with a * for centre." Because of the uncertainty, Dreyer didn't assign an NGC designation to MCG +07-07-003.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/24/87): brightest in a compact group. Moderately bright, moderately large, elongated WSW-ENE, brighter along major axis, small bright core. A mag 15 star is at the west edge 22" from the center. Forms a close trio with NGC 1130 1.7' NNW and NGC 1131 1.7' SE. IC 265 5.6' NE not seen.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb