John Herschel discovered NGC 1549 = h2629 on 6 Dec 1834 and noted "B, R, 40 arcseconds." (single sweep). Wolfgang Steinicke originally credited James Dunlop with the discovery, though Glen Cozens states D 331 applies to NGC 1553 with a 1 hr error in RA and that Dunlop missed NGC 1549 for some reason (possibly poor conditions because of dew on optics). Steinicke now credits JH with the discovery. Innes (MN 59, 339, 1899) and DeLisle Stewart's corrected position in the IC 2 Notes section is accurate (Herschel's RA was uncertain).

300/350mm - 13.1" (2/19/04 - Costa Rica): bright, moderately large, round, 1.5' diameter. Strongly concentrated with an intense 30" core and a bright stellar nucleus with direct vision. Cradled by a distinctive group of 5 stars including mag 8.7 SAO 233458 to the SSE. This member of the Dorado Group forms an interacting pair w/NGC 1553 12' SSE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb