Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 1296 = LM 1-365 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander McCormick Observatory, reporting "0.2' diam, R". His position is 34 tsec of RA east of MCG -02-09-025 = PGC 12341. Herbert Howe measured an accurate position in 1899-00 using the 20" refractor at Chamberlin Observatory.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/30/99): faint, small, round, 0.6' diameter, weak concentration. At 280x, there is a hint of structure or possibly a very faint star is attached. The DSS image shows a barred spiral with spiral arms attached at the east and west ends of the bar.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb