Ralph Copeland discovered NGC 739 on 9 Jan 1874 with the 72" at Birr Castle in an observation of NGC 750/751 group. Described as "A cF, vS, R neb, bM (inside a triangle of st) is south-preceding the n[orth] component". The direction should have read north-preceding the north component but Copeland gave the correct orientation as PA 292° (WNW) and separation 524" (8.7'). Because of his error the derived position was in error and this was copied into the NGC. In 1913 Curtis noted there was nothing at the NGC position and suggested MCG +05-05-030 was NGC 739, based on Crossley photographs at Lick. CGCG (503-059) fails to label its entry as NGC 739. See Corwin's notes.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/27/92): very faint, very small, round. Forms the south vertex of a triangle with a mag 13.5 star 1.1' NW and a mag 14 star 40" NE. The galaxy pair NGC 750/NGC 751is in the field 9' SE. Incorrect declination in the NGC (SW of NGC 750 instead of NW) and not identified as NGC 739 in the CGCG.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb