?douard Stephan found NGC 1002 = St XII-21 on 14 Dec 1881 with the 31" reflector at the Marseille Observatory. His position matches UGC 2133 = PGC 10034, though he discovered (list III-11) this galaxy 10 years earlier on 13 Dec 1871 and Dreyer catalogued it as NGC 983. Stephan misidentified his comparison star, though, so the position for NGC 983 is incorrect. When corrected, NGC 983 = NGC 1002. Because the position for NGC 1002 is unambiguous, catalogues use this identification. See Corwin's notes for NGC 983.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/27/92): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, larger brighter core, irregular surface brightness. Collinear with a mag 12.5 star 1.2' NE and a mag 13 star 2.8' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb