Stephane Javelle found IC 730 = J. 2-728 on 22 Mar 1893 with the 30-inch refractor at the Nice Observatory. His position matches CGCG 040-040. This galaxy was first discovered by David Todd on 11 Feb 1878 in his search for trans-Neptunian planets with the 26-inch refractor at the Naval Observatory and reported as Todd 10 (later NGC 3849). Todd noted a "large and nebulous" object with a star 2' in PA ~210° (SSW). There is nothing at his rough position, but using Todd's discovery sketch, Harold Corwin identified Todd 10 as CGCG 040-040. So, IC 730 = NGC 3849.

Most modern catalogues label this galaxy as IC 730 due to the poor NGC position, though Deep Sky Field Guide and Uranometria Sky Atlas use NGC 3849. See Harold Corwin's identification notes.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/9/99): faint, small, slightly elongated SW-NE, 25" diameter, no concentration. Visible steadily with direct vision. A mag 15 star lies 1.6' SSW. This is a Todd discovery and due to a poor position is listed as nonexistent in RNGC. This galaxy is listed as IC 730 (good position from Javelle) in modern catalogues.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/16/15): at 488x; moderately bright, fairly small, oval 3:2 or 5:3 SW-NE, 0.5'x0.3', small bright core, fairly high surface brightness. A mag 16.3 star is off the southeast side [27" from center]. An extremely faint "star" was noted off the northwest side [25" from center]. After later checking the SDSS, I discovered this is a compact galaxy (SDSS J114534.52+031417.8) with V = 17.8. An extremely faint edge-on poking out of the east side of IC 730 was not seen.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb