William Herschel discovered NGC 1409 = H III-263 = h304 on 6 Jan 1785 (sweep 351) and logged "Suspected, eF, stellar or lE, 240x power rather confirmed it, but left a doubt." His position is 2' south of this double system (with NGC 1410).

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/24/87): faint, small, oval SSW-NNE. This is a contact pair with NGC 1410 - just 14" between centers. At high power appears faint, small, round, small bright core. NGC 1410 is just 15" NE in a common halo. Located on the Eridanus border.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb