John Herschel discovered NGC 1518 = h2611 on 6 Jan 1785 and recorded "B; L; pmE; gbM; has a *8 mag south-preceding 3' or 4' dist." There is nothing at his position but ESO 550-007 is 1.0 minute of RA east and his description applies. Herbert Howe measured an accurate position in 1898 using the 20" refractor at Chamberlin Observatory (repeated in the IC 2 notes) and gave the position angle as 200?. Sir Robert Ball, observing with Lord Rosse's 72" on 25 Jan 1867, wrote "I have little doubt that there are interesting details in the form of this object but the altitude is low (15?) and the night was bad. The middle part is bright but apparently excentric if (as was suspected) there is a branch proceeding south and somewhat curved towards the preceding side."

200/250mm - 8" (1/1/84): faint, very elongated 3:1 streak SW-NE. A mag 10 star 2.5' SW interferes with viewing. NGC 1521 lies 22' ENE.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/28/94): fairly faint, very elongated 3:1 SW-NE, 2.7'x0.9', weak concentration. Located 2.5' NE of a mag 9.5 star. Appears asymmetric with the SW end close to the bright star much fainter than the main body.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb