John Herschel discovered NGC 7703 = h2251 = Sw. IV-97 on 7 Oct 1825 and recorded "vF; vS; gbM; 10"; has a * 1' dist north following." His position is at the south edge of UGC 12676. Lewis Swift independently discovered this galaxy on 1 Sep 1886 and reported "vF; vS; R; 2 st point to it [to the east]." Swift's position is accurate, though he apparently missed the JH's earlier discovery in the Slough Catalogue and GC.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/28/89): fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 NW-SE, well-defined small bright core, thin faint extensions.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb