Harold Corwin

NGC 2885 = IC 538. John Herschel saw this on only one night. The RA is marked with a plus-minus sign, and his description reads, "eF, vS, E in parallel; RA very uncertain." His description is correct, and his RA is indeed about 25 seconds too large (there is nothing in his estimated place, not even a star). The comment "... E in parallel ..." (that is, the position angle is 90 deg) fits no other galaxy in the area. This is also the brightest galaxy around, so the identification is secure.

Bigourdan made four observations of his "nova" Big. 154, the object that became the IC galaxy -- his reduced position is right on NGC 2885 itself. He also claims to have glimpsed "NGC 2885" (on one night only; on another night, he has this as "Non vue" [not seen]) about 1.4 arcmin north of John Herschel's place. But as with John Herschel's position, there is nothing there, not even a star.

Finally, R.S. Ball saw this galaxy and two companions on 10 January 1867.

― NGC Notes by Harold Corwin

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