Lewis Swift discovered NGC 677 = Sw. V-17, along with NGC 675 = Sw. V-16, on 25 Sep 1886 with the 16" refractor at Warner Observatory. His position is 10 sec of RA west and 14" north of UGC 1275. He described NGC 675 as "vF" and 677 as "eeF", although NGC 677 is the brighter galaxy at the eyepiece. Herbert Howe measured an accurate position in 1897 using the 20" refractor at Chamberlin Observatory, but identifies the object as NGC 675.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/18/89): fairly faint, fairly small, round, bright core increases to a very small brighter nucleus. A mag 14 star lies 1' W and a mag 15 star is 1' S. Forms a close pair with NGC 675 1.4' WSW.

600/800mm - 24" (12/12/17): at 375x; moderately bright or fairly bright, moderately large, round, at least 1' diameter. Sharply concentrated with a small, intensely bright nucleus and a low surface brightness halo. A mag 15.3 star is close to the south edge of the halo. Brighter of a very close pair with NGC 675 1.3' W.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb