John Herschel discovered NGC 1556 = h2631 on 28 Dec 1834 and recorded "vF, S, R, vglbM, 20" dia." His position matches ESO 202-004 = PGC 14818. Using Harvard College Observatory plates, DeLisle Stewart noted "Not round but elongated 165 deg." The RNGC position is nowhere close and falls on a blank piece of sky.

600/800mm - 24" (11/18/12 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x appeared moderately bright and large, very elongated 3:1 NNW-SSE, 1.1'x0.35'. Fairly high surface brightness with a brighter core but no distinct zones. Member of the Dorado Group. Viewed with 4.5 day moon up.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb