NGC 1132 is the prototype of a "Fossil Group" -- the end-product of extensive merging of a once normal group, leaving a massive central galaxy that dominates the luminosity of a X-ray luminous group (delta Rmag ? 2.0 with next brightest group member).

John Herschel discovered NGC 1132 = h273 on 23 Nov 1827 (sweep 107) and recorded "eF; pL; gbM; has a *8m following". His position and description matches UGC 2359 = PGC 10891.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/7/89): faint, small, round, almost even surface brightness, faint stellar nucleus. Located 4.3' WSW of mag 9.5 SAO 130162. Forms a pair with NGC 1126 8' WSW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb