William Herschel discovered NGC 1160 = H III-199 = h277, along with NGC 1160, on 7 Oct 1784 (during sweeps 281-285, carried out in the east) and reported "the first of 2 [with NGC 1161]. vF, iF, pS." On 11 Dec 1786 (sweep 645), he logged "pB, iR, mbM, about 1' in diam." and measured separate positions for the two objects.

JH measured an accurate position for NGC 1161 and noted the wide double star off the west side, but has no entry for NGC 1160 and it was not found by d'Arrest. So, the observers at Birr Castle assumed NGC 1160 was a new discovery and the two galaxies have three entries in the GC. Dreyer staightened this out before the publication of the NGC, while an observing assistant at Birr Castle. Surprisingly, NGC 1160 was sketched by Dreyer and clearly shows the southern spiral arm.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/24/87): fairly faint, fairly small, oval 2:1 SW-NE, broad concentration, diffuse halo. A trio of mag 12-13 stars lie 1.5'-2' N. Forms a pair with NGC 1161 3.5' S.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb