John Herschel discovered NGC 917 = h220 on 22 Nov 1827 and recorded "vF, S, R, forms a semicircle with 4 st." There is nothing at Herschel's single position. Dreyer looked for h220 on 5 Nov 1874 at Birr Castle and noted "no nebulosity seen, only 3 st about 18-20 mag close together nearly in a line pf" (these stars are visible on the DSS). In the NGC notes, Dreyer adds: "h220. No neb, only a vs, Cl with 4 st nr np (2 Birr obs, 1874-76, not found by d'Arrest)." Listed as nonexistent in RNGC.

Harold Corwin identifies NGC 917 = UGC 1890. This galaxy is situated exactly 20' S of Herschel's position and there are several stars just south that form a slightly curving arc. Corwin also checked the sweep and found a diagram matching the nearby stars and nebula UGC 1890) nearly perfectly. So, JH must have made a clerical error in recording or transfering the position or simply misread the NPD on his telescope. Archinal and Hynes (Star Clusters) misidentify an asterism near JH's original position as NGC 917. See Corwin's notes.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/5/02): fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, 1.0'x0.5', broad concentration to a brighter core. Located 2.0' N of a mag 8 star and 18' NW of mag 5.6 11 Trianguli. Several mag 13/14 stars in a curving chain are just south. This galaxy is identified as UGC 1890 in most sources. See Corwin's comments.

17.5" (8/5/97): fairly faint, moderately large, elongated SW-NE, 1.5'x0.8', broad concentration with large slightly brighter core. Located close north of a semi-circular group of stars and just 2.0' NNW of mag 8.2 SAO 55553. The identification of this galaxy with NGC 917 is uncertain and this number is listed as nonexistent in RNGC.

600/800mm - 24" (2/5/13): at 375x appeared moderately bright, moderately large, oval 5:3 SW-NE, 1.0'x0.6', weak concentration to a bright oval core. Just north of a group of mag 12-13 stars and 2' N of mag 8.2 SAO 55553. UGC 1856 (very faint superthin!) lies 27' SW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb