Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 1234 = LM 2-362 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at the Leander McCormick Observatory, recording "mag 16.2, 0.6' dia, iR, 1 or eF stars inv, *9m precedes 30 sec." There is nothing at his position but 40 sec of RA due west is MCG -01-09-011 = PGC 11813. The star to the west is preceding by 22", though it's odd he didn't mention a brighter star to the NE.

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/12/02): extremely faint, small, round, 0.6' diameter, low even surface brightness. Requires averted vision but once identified I could almost hold it continuously with concentration. Based on the galaxy's size and elongation, I probably viewed the brighter core only. Located 4' SW of mag 9.5 SAO 130313.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb