Lewis Swift discovered NGC 973 = Sw. IV-8 on 30 Oct 1885 with the 16" refractor at Warner Observatory and recorded "eeF; S; vE; pB * nr sp". His position and description matches UGC 2048 = PGC 9795.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/30/91): fairly faint, moderately large, very elongated 3:1 SW-NE. Located 4.5' NE of mag 7.5 SAO 55664. Forms a pair with IC 1815 4.5' S.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb