George Johnstone Stoney, Lord Rosse's assistant, discovered NGC 1603 = GC 868, along with NGC 1601 and 1606, on 14 Jan 1849. A sketch of the field surrounding NGC 1600 was made in 1850. In Jan 1874, Ralph Copeland measured an accurate micrometric positions for NGC 1600, 1601 and 1603.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/1/92): very faint, very small, round. Last of a close trio with NGC 1600 2.5' WNW and NGC 1601 2.9' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb