William Herschel discovered NGC 1299 = H II-287 = h296 on 27 Jan 1785, logging it as "F, vS, lE, easily resolvable, unequally bright." On 15 Dec 1786 (sweep 650) he noted "vF, pS, E."

NGC 1299 was observed 9 times at Birr Castle, perhaps trying to resolve it. The earliest was made by assistant Johnstone Stoney on 19 Dec 1848 and noted as "gbM; E [southwest-northeast]."

The position angle is off by 90 deg in the RC 3.

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/1/92): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 5:2 SW-NE, irregular surface brightness. A bright knot or possibly a star is superimposed at the NE end. The galaxy appears to extend out from the pointed NE corner towards the SW. MCG +01-09-027 lies 14' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb