William Herschel discovered NGC 1609 = H III-585, along with NGC 1611 = III-586, on 26 Nov 1786 (sweep 638) though only noted "suspected, but the haziness [weather] is increasing." His position is less than 1' northwest of MCG -01-12-025 = PGC 15480.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/1/92): faint, small, dominated by small bright core, fairly bright stellar nucleus, small faint extensions NNW-SSE. A mag 14 star is 40" NW. Located in the NGC 1600 group with NGC 1607 10' SW and NGC 1611 7' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb