Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 1229 = LM 2-359, along with NGC 1228 = II-359, in 1886 with the 26" refractor at the Leander McCormick Observatory, recording "mag 16.0, 0.1', R, gbM, 2nd of 2". There is nothing at his position, but 1 min of RA west is ESO 480-033 = PGC 11734. Herbert Howe measured an accurate position in 1899-00 using the 20" refractor at Chamberlin Observatory (repeated in the IC 2 notes). He also mentioned that NGC 1229 precedes 1228 a little.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/10/96): very faint, very small, round, 0.4' diameter. Located 2.2' S of brighter NGC 1228 in a group with NGC 1230 1.9' SE and IC 1892. A mag 13.5 star lies 1.4' N on a line to NGC 1228.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb