Forms a pair (similar redshift) with ESO 246-022 9' NE. It appeared faint, fairly small, oval 4:3 or 3:2 NW-SE, ~30"x 18". The surface brightness is low and nearly uniform. Situated 1.6' NE of a mag 9.6 star. LEDA 130202, 2.2' N, was not noticed (B = 16.5). The trio forms KTS 17, though the last galaxy is far in the background.

John Herschel discovered NGC 979 = h2486 on 22 Nov 1827 and logged "Not vF, S, R; almost stellar; between 2 stars nearly in the parallel." His two observations differ by 7 sec in RA.

600/800mm - 25" (10/16/17 - OzSky): at 244x; fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, round, ~35" diameter, faint but sharp stellar nucleus. Situated within a string of 3 stars ~E-W with a mag 11.5 star 1.8' W.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb