Lewis Swift discovered NGC 538 = Sw. VI-10 on 20 Nov 1886 with the 16" refractor at the Warner Observatory and recorded "eF; S; vE; pF * close N; Not 5180 [NGC 558]". Swift's position is 10 sec of RA east of UGC 991 = PGC 5275 and his comment "pF * close N" applies, though the star is not faint.

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/22/84): fairly faint, elongated SW-NE, star on NE tip.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/19/87): faint, very small, elongated SSW-NNE, weak concentration. A mag 12 star is at the north edge 34" from center. UGC 995 lies 3' NNW within AGC 194.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb