Stephane Javelle discovered IC 89 = J. 1-49 on 20 Aug 1892. His position matches CGCG 411-016 = PGC 4578. This galaxy is possibly identical to NGC 446, discovered by Marth on 23 Oct 1864. Marth's position is 1.0 minute of RA west of IC 89. UGC, CGCG, MCG and RC3 use IC 89 as the primary designation for this galaxy. Karl Reinmuth also makes the equivalence NGC 446 = IC 89 and gives the IC position. UGC, CGCG (411-010) and RNGC identify UGC 794 = PGC 4494 as NGC 446. This galaxy is located 13 sec of RA east and 7' north of UGC 794, which would require random errors in both directions by Marth instead of a single digit error.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/23/92): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 NW-SE, prominent sharp bright core with a nearly stellar nucleus. This galaxy is identified as IC 89 in UGC, CGCG and RC3. NGC 446 lies 19' WSW and NGC 462 is 30' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb