John Herschel discovered NGC 1660 = h2659 (along with NGC 1658 = h2658) on 1 Dec 1837 and logged "vF, lE, glbM, 20"." His position is 1.5' too far south (similar offset with nearby NGC 1658).

400/500mm - 18" (1/17/09): not picked up initially at 175x, but just visible at 225x as an extremely faint, round, glow ~20" in diameter (the elongation was not evident). After viewing at the higher magnification, I was able to go back and glimpse the galaxy at 175x. Forms a 3' pair with brighter NGC 1658 to the NW. Located 6' ENE of mag 9.9 HD 30203 and 2' SW of a mag 14 star. Viewed at a very low elevation from Lake Sonoma although the seeing was very good fairly close to the horizon.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb