Édouard Stephan discovered NGC 2449 = St VI-9 on 18 Jan 1874. His position matches UGC 4026.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/20/88): fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated NW-SE, bright core. Forms a pair with NGC 2450 6.0' NNE.

600/800mm - 24" (2/16/15): at 300x and 375x; fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NW-SE. Contains low surface brightness extensions (arms) extending ~40"x20" and a sharply defined oval core 25"x12". A mag 14.7 star is just off the west side [34" from center] and a mag 15.5 is off the southwest side [35" from center].

NGC 2449 is the brightest member of a small group (WBL 152) with NGC 2450 6' NNE, IC 476 1.5' NW and IC 2205 7' SW. IC 476 appeared very faint, small, slightly elongated, ~15"x12" diameter. It required averted vision but could hold steadily.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb