Albert Marth discovered NGC 2917 = m 170 on 6 Feb 1864 and logged "pF, S, mbM." His position matches UGC 5098 = PGC 27207.
400/500mm - 17.5" (2/13/88): faint, small, elongated NNW-SSE, brighter core. A mag 10 star (SAO 136961) is 2' SE.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb