Johnstone and Bindon Stoney, Lord Rosse's assistants, discovered NGC 1323 on 2 Nov 1850 while reobserving the field containing NGC 1320 and 1321. The description reads, "suspected neb (or perhaps only a star) with a F* close sp." It's possible this galaxy was found earlier by George Johnstone Stoney on 19 Dec 1848 and mentioned as a "* or nebula about 2 1/2' north of [NGC 1322]. But the separation is nearly 6' and there is an extremely faint star 2' NNE of[NGC 1322, which is more likely the object seen.. This quartet was observed a total of 14 times at Birr Castle!

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/25/87): very faint, extremely small, round. Located 30" NE of a mag 14 star. Fourth of four in a group, with two pairs at separate distances. NGC 1322 and 1323 have similar redshifts.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb