Lewis Swift discovered NGC 1224 = Sw. II-28 on 20 Aug 1885 with the 16" refractor at Warner Observatory. His position matches UGC 2578, located just 42' SE of Algol. Swift made specific searches around bright stars assuming others might have missed nebulae hiding in the glare of these stars.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/24/87): very faint, very small, round, small brighter core. Member of AGC 426.

600/800mm - 24" (12/20/17): at 375x; fairly faint, fairly small, round, 20" diameter (central region of galaxy), gradually increases to a stellar peak. A mag 13.5 pair [~12" separation?] is just 1.5' ENE. A mag 9.8 star lies 2.2' SSW and a mag 10.4 star is 3.0' NNW. Located 42' NW of Algol in AGC 426.

IC 293, situated 14' SSW of NGC 1224, appeared faint, small, round, 20" diameter, broad and weak concentration.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb