Frank Muller discovered NGC 7813 = LM 2-476 in 1886 at the Leander McCormick Observatory and recorded "mag 15.2; 0.5'x0.2' E 80°, *8.5 follows 38 seconds; *9 north preceding 40 seconds." There is nothing at his position, but 1.0 minute east is MCG -02-01-016 = PGC 287. His description has several inconsistencies: his position angle is well off from 158°, a mag 11-12 star follows by 25 seconds (his estimates were often a couple of mags too bright) and a mag 8 star precedes by 40 seconds. Still, there are no other reasonable candidates nearby. Herbert Howe found this galaxy again in 1899 while searching for Muller's object and assumed it was new because of the inconsistencies listed above, and it was recatalogued as IC 5384. So, NGC 7813 is perhaps identical to IC 5384, but not with certainty.

MCG labels this galaxy as IC 5384. Roger Sinnott's NGC 2000.0 and the Deep Sky Field Guide both give the wrong position (based on the NGC position). See Corwin's notes.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/6/93): very faint, very small, round, weak concentration, can just steadily with direct vision. A mag 13 star is 3' NW. Located 12' ESE of mag 8.2 SAO 147055. The listed magnitude appears too bright.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb