Andrew Ainslie Common discovered NGC 7630 before 8 Aug 1880 while viewing Faye's comet "as seen some 15' following...There are 2 similar nebulae within 30' south-following [NGC 7638 and 7639]." Common gives a very rough position in his Copernicus list (nearest min of RA). But just 2' south is UGC 12540.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/28/89): very faint, very small, elongated ~N-S, low surface brightness. Located 2' E of an unequal double star mag 11/13 at 20" separation. IC 1483, IC 1484 and IC 1485 lies ~20' ESE (Common's NGC 7638 and 7639 may be identical to IC 1483 and 1485).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb