Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 872 = LM 1-50 on 15 Oct 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander McCormick Observatory. His rough position (nearest tmin of RA) is 0.8 tmin following ESO 544-032 = PGC 8629 and the description "vE 0° [N-S]" matches. Corwin also examined two sketches made by Leavenworth, all pointing to this galaxy.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/8/94): extremely faint but moderately large and almost requires averted vision, low surface brightness, elongated 3:2 N-S, 1.2'x0.8'. A mag 11 star is 3.1' NW of center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb