William Herschel discovered NGC 1397 = H III-569 on 30 Sep 1786 (sweep 608) and recorded "eF, lE, easily resolvable." His position (re-reduced by Auwers) is just 1.3' NE of MCG -01-10-017 = PGC 13485. JH thought his observation of h305 applied to this galaxy, but actually he discovered IC 344.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/25/87): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated NW-SE, weak concentration.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb