Wilhelm Tempel discovered NGC 2646 = T IX-9 on 27 Jul 1883, along with NGC 2636, with the 11" refractor at the Arcetri Observatory near Florence. His description reads "small, 2.5' south-following are two stars 12-13m." There is nothilng at Tempel's position, but 1 degree south is UGC 4604 = PGC 24838 and two mag 11-12 stars are ~2.5' SSE, matching his description. The misprint in declination was corrected by Dreyer in the NGC notes section. I'm surprised Tempel missed nearby IC 520, which is a brighter galaxy.

300/350mm - 13.1" (1/11/86): fairly faint, small, round, faint star close south.

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/12/02): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 WSW-ENE, 0.8'x0.6'. Weak, even concentration to center. Located 2.5' NNW of a wide 40" pair of mag 11/12.5 stars. In a group with IC 2389 11' NW, IC 520 14' ENE and NGC 2636 15' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb