Lewis Swift discovered NGC 1577 = Sw. III-29 on 10 Nov 1885 with the 16" refractor at the Warner Observatory and recorded "vF, pL, R, lbM, * nr south". His position and description (an 11th mag star is 2' S) applies to MCG -02-12-014. Frank Muller independently found the galaxy the following year and it was also catalogued as NGC 1575 (list II-395). Although his RA is 0.4 min off, the comment "*9.5, PA 185, 2' sep" clinches the identify NGC 1575 = NGC 1577, with priority to Swift.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/8/91): fairly faint, irregularly round, gradually increases to small bright core, possible faint stellar nucleus. Located 2' N of a mag 10.5 star and 13' SE of mag 6.9 SAO 149622.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb