Harold Corwin

NGC 451 = IC 1661, and is another of Barnard's IC discoveries sent directly to Dreyer (Stephan discovered the object, and his observation led to the NGC entry). It is also the second of two nebulae which Barnard found in the area. Like the first (NGC 447, which see), there is possible confusion about its identification. In this case, Barnard's description is sparse, "eF, S, R" and his position has the RA of NGC 451, but is closer in declination to NGC 449.

Two things convince me that Barnard re-observed NGC 451 (which is just where Stephan measured it to be): 1) this galaxy is brighter than NGC 449 by at least a magnitude, and it is larger, too. 2) Barnard's declination is about 1.2 arcmin north of the true place of NGC 451, just as his declination of NGC 447 is about 1.4 arcmin north of that galaxy. If he observed both objects on the same night, as seems likely, then the offset will be systematic. Since we know the identification of NGC 447 = IC 1656 is solid, it follows that NGC 451 must be IC 1661.

― NGC Notes by Harold Corwin

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