William Herschel discovered NGC 1209 = H II-504 = h286 on 30 Dec 1785 (sweep 499) and logged "pB, S, lE, mbM. The brightness also extended. " John Herscel reported on 15 Oct 1830 (sweep 307), "vB; E; psbM; 30" l; 20" br."

300/350mm - 13.1" (1/18/85): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated ~E-W, very small bright core. Appears slightly fainter than NGC 1199 40' W.

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/12/02): moderately bright, fairly small,, elongated 2:1 E-W, 1.4'x0.7'. Increases to a bright, rounder core and stellar nucleus. NGC 1231 lies 6.8' NE.

NGC 1209 is the brightest in a group (LGG 81), along with NGC 1199, that includes NGCs 1145, 1163, 1188, 1189, 1190 and IC 276. NGC 1209 is located 40' following HCG 22, whose brightest member is NGC 1199.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb