Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 1564 = LM 1-130 (along with NGC 1563 = I-129) on 12 Nov 1885 with the 26" refractor at the Leander McCormick Observatory. Herbert Howe measured an accurate position in 1898-99 using the 20" refractor at Chamberlin Observatory (repeated in the IC 2 notes). The PGC magnitudes for NGC 1563 and 1564 appear to be reversed.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/30/99): very faint, very small, round, 20" diameter, low surface brightness. Two mag 13.5/14 stars are close NE. Located 6.4' due north of NGC 1561 in a group. Forms a close pair with NGC 1563 1.7' W.

17.5" (2/8/91): extremely faint, very small, round. A trio of mag 13/14 stars lie 2'-3' NE. Member of the NGC 1561 group. Nearby NGC 1563 not seen.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb