Lewis Swift discovered NGC 7651 = Sw. IV-96 on 1 Sep 1886 and recorded "eF; S; R; in vacancy." His position is accurate. This is a double system (not resolved by Swift) with an extremely small companion at the south edge. NGC 7644 may be a duplicate observation by Swift. See that number.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/17/93): faint, fairly small, round, 1.0' diameter, very small brighter core, diffuse halo gradually fades into background. The companion at the south edge was missed.

17.5" (8/27/92): fairly faint, small, round, halo gradually increases to a small bright core. Forms a double system with a companion attached at the south-southwest end. PGC 3085862 is an extremely faint small knot, round, just nonstellar.

600/800mm - 24" (1/1/16): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, 0.5'x0.4', very small bright core, stellar nucleus. Forms a double system with PGC 3085862 at or just off the south edge, just 20" between centers. The companion appeared very faint, extremely small, round, ~6" diameter.

Several additional galaxies are nearby (part of the southern extension of AGC 2593). PGC 71344, just 2.3' W, appeared very faint (V = 15.3), small, round, 15" diameter. 2MFGC 17581 = LEDA 1445975, just 1.7' NE, also appeared very faint (V = 15.2), small, elongated WNW-ESE, 15"x10". IC 5319 lies 5.7' ENE and was noted as faint or fairly faint (V = 14.8), small, round, 18" diameter.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb