Guillaume Bigourdan found IC 1280 = B. 222 on 1 Jul 1886 while searching for NGC 6581, which was discovered by Stephan. Due to an error in Stephan's position Bigourdan thought the nebula was new, but the position (and Stephan's description) clearly establishes NGC 6581 = IC 1280. MCG, CGCG and UGC label this galaxy IC 1280 and ignore the NGC designation.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/1/89): faint, small, round. A mag 14.5 star is at the NE end and a mag 15 star at the south end. Image confused by these two close faint stars. A wide pair of stars is 12' SW. Located in the UGC 11156 group and incorrectly identified as UGC 11155 in the RNGC.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb