Édouard Stephan discovered NGC 2617 = St XIII-40 on 12 Feb 1885 with the 31" reflector at the Marseilles Observatory. His position is a perfect match with MCG -01-22-026. MCG and RC3 misidentify MCG -01-22-027, a fainter galaxy just 2.4' east, as NGC 2617. The RNGC position and magnitude also refers to MCG -01-22-027, though the RNGC new description "companion 1' foll" refers to MCG -01-22-026. Roger Sinnott's NGC 2000.0 has the wrong magnitude and size (based on the RNGC position and mag) and the first edition of the Uranometria Deep Sky Field Guide also misidentifies MCG -01-22-027 as NGC 2617 (corrected in the second edition). See Harold Corwin's notes.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/6/91): very faint, small, round, low even surface brightness. Unusual appearance as a mag 14 star is involved on the north edge 22" from center and a second mag 14 star is 30" S of center. Forms a pair with MCG -01-22-027 2.4' E.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb