William Herschel discovered NGC 673 = H II-589 on 4 Sep 1786 (sweep 582) and logged "F, pL, E, brightest following the middle, 2' south-preceding a considerably bright star [10th mag]." Using the 72" at Birr Castle in 1875, J.L.E. Dreyer accurately described the galaxy as "pB, pL, irr R, vlbM, *10-11m Pos. 65.8°, Dist 195.6".

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/18/89): moderately bright, moderately large, slightly elongated SSW-NNE, weak concentration. Located 3.1' WSW of a mag 10 star.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb