Heinrich d'Arrest discovered NGC 688 on 16 Sep 1865 with the 11-inch refractor at Copenhagen. His position matches the starburst (nucleus) galaxy UGC 1302 = Mrk 1009 = PGC 6799.

300/350mm - 13.1" (10/20/84): fairly faint, moderately large, diffuse, weak concentration.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/19/87): fairly faint, fairly small, oval NNW-SSE, weak concentration. Forms a pair with UGC 1299 within in AGC 262.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb