Lewis Swift discovered NGC 7413 = Sw. IV-87, along with NGC 7414, on 2 Sep 1886 and recorded ""eeF; pS; R; e diff.; 8 or 10 stars in an irregular line p; s of 2 [with NGC 7414]." His RA is 15 seconds too small, but his comment of the string of stars applies to the loose string of stars extending southwest. Herbert Howe measured an accurate micrometric position in 1998-99. See NGC 7414.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/19/87): faint, extremely small, round, weak concentration. Several fairly bright stars lie SW including a mag 10 star 3.8' SW and a mag 11 star 6.1' SW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb