Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 1225 = LM 2-358 (along with NGC 1223 = II-357) in 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander McCormick Observatory, recording "mag 15.5, 0.2' dia, R". His position is 30 sec of RA following MCG -01-09-004 = PGC 11766. Bigourdan listed this galaxy as #257, measured an accurate position, and noted "could be NGC 1225 with an error of 30 sec in RA." MCG mislabels -01-09-004 as NGC 1223. RNGC reversed the identifications of NGC 1223 and NGC 1225 and because of this mistake they were switched in the first edition of the Uranometria 2000.0 Atlas.

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/7/89): third of three with NGC 1221 and NGC 1223. Very faint, very small, round, small bright core. Located 7' E of NGC 1223. The identifications of NGC 1223 and NGC 1225 are reversed in the RNGC.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb