Frank Muller discovered NGC 7646 = LM 2-474 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at the Leander McCormick Observatory. He reported "mag 14.5; 0.2'x0.1', E 260°, neb?; *9 in PA 10° at 3.6' separation." There is nothing near his rough position, though 8' north is IC 5318 = PGC 71338. All modern catalogues identify this galaxy as NGC 7646, although NED comments the identification is uncertain.

Harold Corwin notes several inconsistencies with Muller's description; the elongation is NW-SE (not ~E-W) and the star at 3.6' separation is 10° west of north, not east. A more serious omission, though, is that Muller makes no mention of the bright, superimposed star on the west side. So, this identification is very unlikely.

In 2016, Yann Pothier suggested NGC 7646 is the double star at 23 24 32.3 -11 59 07. Harold Corwin agrees this is a good candidate as the position angle of the pair matches Muller's estimate and a star is at the required separation and position angle matching Muller's description.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/25/95): very faint, very small, probably elongated 3:2 NW-SE, 30"x20". The view is severely hindered by mag 11.5 star that is attached at the northwest end! It was difficult to determine the dimensions and orientation due to glare from star and faintness of galaxy.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb