Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 600 (= GC 354 = WH III 432, 1860 RA 01 26 15, NPD 98 02.6) is "most extremely faint".
Physical Information: Apparent size 2.8 by 2.1 arcmin?

Historical Identification: PGC 5742 (= JH 2420, 1860 RA 01 26 16, NPD 129 24.9) is "very faint, pretty large, round, very little brighter middle, 2 arcmin diameter; has a double star 5 or 6 arcmin to northeast". Herschel's (1830) position precesses to RA 01 32 28.3, Dec -38 41 38, less than 0.8 arcmin south of the center of the galaxy listed above and barely outside its southern outline, the description is a good fit, there is nothing else nearby and the double star to the north northeast makes the identification certain.
Discovery Notes: Herschel (almost certainly accidentally) skipped over this object when compiling his General Catalog, and as a result Dreyer also failed to list it in the NGC (or any subsequent catalog), though it is surprising no one else picked it up, as it is a relatively easy object compared to many other catalog entries. It was only when Steve Gottlieb contacted Dr. Corwin in December 2013 that it was added to his "notngc" notes (a list of objects that should have been in the NGC but are not, or were omitted for good reason). It is listed here because given Herschel's position, this is where it would have ended up in the NGC if Dreyer had been aware of its existence.
Physical Information: Based on a recessional velocity of 3665 km/sec, PGC 5742 is about 170 million light years away. Given that and its apparent size of 1.2 by 1.2 arcmin, it is about 60 thousand light years across.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 601 (Muller list II (#311), 1860 RA 01 26 25, NPD 102 56.3) is "very faint, very small, round, 4 arcmin southeast of II 473", (WH) II 473 being NGC 599.
Physical Information: Apparent size 0.4 by 0.4 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 602 (= GC 356 = JH 2421, Dunlop 17?, 1860 RA 01 26 25, NPD 164 16.6) is "bright, small, round, pretty suddenly brighter middle similar to a star, mottled but not resolved". The position precesses to RA 01 29 32.2, Dec -73 33 13, well within the region filled by the cluster and nebula and the description fits, so the identication is considered certain.
Discovery Note: Although Herschel credited Dunlop with the discovery, Dreyer was obviously uncertain about the actual observation involved; but it is now considered certain that D17, whose position is only 3 arcmin east of the cluster, was indeed the correct observation, since its description perfectly fits the cluster.
Note About PGC Designation: For purposes of completeness, LEDA assigns a PGC designation to almost every NGC/IC object, even if not a galaxy. However, in this case (and most such cases) a search of the database for the PGC designation returns no result, hence its being placed in quotes.
Physical Information: NGC 602 is in the Small Magellanic Cloud, which is about 200 thousand light years away. Given that and the apparent size of about 0.6 by 0.5 arcmin (from the images below) for the central part of the cluster, the cluster is about 35 light years across, and the apparent size of about 2.8 by 2.3 arcmin for the nebula lit up by the cluster corresponds to about 160 to 165 light years.
 NGC 602 is a roughly five million year old open cluster and surrounding emission nebula in the Small Magellanic Cloud. It is one of several clusters lying near the rim of SMC-1, the largest supergiant shell in the SMC (a supergiant shell is a region in which strong stellar winds from extremely massive stars sweep interstellar gases out of the area near them, and as those gases run into surrounding clouds of gas, compress them and form new stars, whence the clusters near the rims of such shells). The brightest (magnitude 13.8) star in NGC 602 is an O-type star which is the main source of the ionizing radiation energizing the nebula, N90. Stars in the cluster that are more massive than the Sun have reached the Main Sequence, but lower mass stars are still in the pre-Main Sequence "formation" stage of their evolution. For those lower-mass stars, detailed studies suggest that not all the stars in this cluster formed at the same time, but over a period ranging from two to ten million years in the past (it is thought that gravitational interactions with the Large Magellanic Cloud and our galaxy may have triggered different episodes of star formation). Studies of stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud are of great interest to astronomers interested in stellar formation, because it is close enough to distinguish stars that are much fainter than our Sun, and because interstellar clouds in that galaxy have far lower amounts of "metals" (meaning anything other than hydrogen and helium) and only about a tenth as much dust (compared to the amount of gas) as our galaxy's interstellar clouds. This means that relative to our galaxy, the Small Magellanic Cloud is in a very early stage of evolution, and will take a very long time to become as rich in "metals" as our own galaxy.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 603 (= GC 357, 3rd Lord Rosse, 1860 RA 01 26 30, NPD 60 32) is a "small nebula or cluster with 3 stars involved". The second Index Catalog notes "On two plates of Messier 33 by Dr. Roberts I could only see an extremely faint star in this place".
Discovery Notes: Although Dreyer credits the discovery to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, he notes that many of Rosse's nebular discoveries were actually made by one of his assistants, in this case Bindon Stoney. Also, "Dr. Roberts" was probably Dr. Dorothea Klumpke Roberts, a highly regarded professional astronomer who was the second wife (and widow) of Isaac Roberts. If and when I can find more specific information, it will be posted here.
Physical Information:

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 604 (= GC 355 = JH 133 = WH III 150, d'Arrest, Schultz (#??), 1860 RA 01 26 40, NPD 59 56.2) is "bright, very small, round, very very little brighter middle".
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.95 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 606 (Stephan list XII (#18), 1860 RA 01 26 50, NPD 49 28.3) is "very faint, very small, round, brighter middle".
Physical Information: Apparent size 2.2 by 1.1 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 606 (Stephan list XII (#16), 1860 RA 01 27 12, NPD 69 18.0) is "extremely faint, pretty small, round, very little brighter middle, mottled but not resolved?".
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.4 by 1.2 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 607 (= GC 358, d'Arrest, 1860 RA 01 27 16, NPD 98 07.8) is "an 11th magnitude star, nebulous? (Auwers 15)". The first Index Catalog notes "This star is not nebulous, but has a 14th-magnitude star close south, looking at first sight like a nebulous appendage (per Spitaler)".
Physical Information:

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 608 (= GC 359 = JH 134, 1860 RA 01 27 30, NPD 57 03.5) is "very faint, pretty suddenly brighter middle, stellar".
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.9 by 1.5 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 609 (= GC 5187, d'Arrest, 1860 RA 01 27 34, NPD 26 10.1) is "a cluster, small, pretty rich, stars from 14th magnitude downwards".
Physical Information: Apparent size 3.0 arcmin? (Position determined from closeup image below.)

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 610 (Muller list II (#312), 1860 RA 01 27 35, NPD 110 52.3) is "extremely faint, very small, round, very gradually brighter middle, 10th magnitude star 2 arcmin to west". The position precesses to RA 01 34 18.2, Dec -20 09 10, as shown above, but there is nothing there.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 611 (Muller list II (#313), 1860 RA 01 27 35, NPD 110 51.3) is "extremely faint, very small, (perhaps a faint star?), 30 arcsec northeast of last", the "last" being NGC 610. The position precesses to RA 01 34 18.3, Dec -20 08 10, as shown above, but there is nothing there.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 612 (= GC 360 = JH 2423, 1860 RA 01 27 45, NPD 127 13.5) is "faint, very small, round, 12th magnitude star to west".
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.5 by 0.9 arcmin? Listed as a Seyfert galaxy (type Sy 2).

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 613 (= GC 361 = JH 139 = JH 2422 = WH I 281, (Dunlop 621), 1860 RA 01 27 47, NPD 120 07.6) is "very bright, very large, very much extended 118�, suddenly brighter middle, 10th magnitude star to northeast". The position precesses to RA 01 34 15.9, Dec -29 24 28, well within the northwestern outline of the galaxy listed above, the description fits and there is nothing else nearby, so the identification is certain.
Discovery Note: The identification of this object as Dunlop 621 is the result of recent research, hence its not being noted in the NGC (as shown by parentheses).
Physical Information: Based on a recessional velocity relative to the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation of 1240 km/sec (and H₀ = 70 km/sec/Mpc), NGC 613 is about 55 to 60 million light years away, in good agreement with redshift-independent distance estimates of about 50 to 105 million light years (the HST press release uses a distance of about 65 to 70 million light years). Given that and its apparent size of about 4.6 by 3.5 arcmin for the bright central galaxy and about 5.8 by 3.9 arcmin for the fainter outer regions (from the images below), the bright part of the galaxy is about 75 to 80 thousand light years across, and its fainter outer regions span about 95 to 100 thousand light years. The galaxy is listed as a possible Seyfert galaxy (type Sy?).
Usage By The de Vaucouleurs Atlas: NGC 613 is used by the de Vaucouleurs Atlas of Galaxies as an example of type SB(rs)bc.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 614 (= GC 362 = JH 135 = WH III 174, 1860 RA 01 27 53, NPD 57 02.3) is "pretty faint, pretty suddenly brighter middle, stellar". The position precesses to RA 01 35 51.3, Dec +33 40 46, within the southwestern outline of the galaxy listed above, the description fits and there is nothing else nearby, so the identification is certain.
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.4 by 1.4 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 615 (= GC 363 = JH 137 = WH II 282, d'Arrest, 1860 RA 01 28 06, NPD 98 03.4) is "pretty bright, pretty large, irregularly a little extended, gradually brighter middle, mottled but not resolved, 8th magnitude star 10 arcmin to northwest".
Physical Information: Apparent size 2.7 by 0.9 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 616 (= GC 5188, d'Arrest, 1860 RA 01 28 07, NPD 56 57.2) is a "nebulous double star, 8th magnitude star to northwest".
Physical Information:

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 617 (Leavenworth list II (#314), 1860 RA 01 28 13, NPD 100 30.3) is "extremely faint, small, a little extended".
Physical Information: Apparent size 0.5 by 0.5 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 618 (= GC 364 = JH 136, 1860 RA 01 28 20, NPD 57 19.4) is "pretty bright, pretty large, brighter middle (? place)", the last comment suggesting that the position is questionable, making any identification difficult to impossible. At the moment the best guess is that NGC 618 is a duplicate of NGC 614, hence the discoverer information above; but that may prove to be completely wrong, so this entry should be considered very preliminary and the final version may be considerably different. As noted by Dreyer in the first Index Catalog, "NGC 618 and 627, = h136 and 141. Not observed by h in the same sweep as h134-135. Should be struck out. Neither of them seen by Burnham".
Physical Information: (this entry will be primarily concerned with the identification, however dubious it might be, of NGC 618; if shown to be a duplicate of some other NGC object, this line will refer the reader to that object)

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 619 (= GC 365 = JH 2424, 1860 RA 01 28 38, NPD 127 12.3) is "most extremely faint, very small, round, western of 2", the other being NGC 623.
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.5 by 1.0 arcmin? A complex ringed spiral galaxy (possibly a polar ring galaxy?). Used by de Vaucouleurs as an example of galaxy type (R₁')SB(rs)ab.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 620 (= GC 5189, Stephan list III (#2), 1860 RA 01 28 43, NPD 48 23.6) is "extremely faint, very small, round, a little brighter middle".
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.0 by 0.9 arcmin? Probably a starburst or Seyfert galaxy.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 621 (Stephan list XIII (#10), 1860 RA 01 28 46, NPD 55 12.1) is "very faint, extremely small, round, brighter middle and nucleus".
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.2 by 1.0 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 622 (= GC 366 = JH 138 = WH III 454, 1860 RA 01 28 49, NPD 90 03.0) is "extremely faint, pretty large, diffuse".
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.6 by 1.0 arcmin? A starburst galaxy.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 623 (= GC 367 = JH 2425, 1860 RA 01 28 50, NPD 127 12.7) is "faint, small, round, eastern of 2", the other being NGC 619.
Physical Information: Apparent size 2.0 by 1.5 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 624 (= GC 368 = JH 140 = WH III 471, 1860 RA 01 28 55, NPD 100 43.6) is "extremely faint, small, among very small (faint) stars".
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.5 by 1.0 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 625 (= GC 369 = JH 2426, Dunlop 479, 1860 RA 01 28 57 NPD 132 09.4) is "bright, large, much extended, gradually pretty much brighter middle".
Physical Information: Apparent size 7.5 by 1.9 arcmin? Used by de Vaucouleurs as an example of galaxy type IB:(s)m sp. Raw HST false-color images are available for parts of the galaxy, but will require considerable work to stitch together so that will have to wait until the next iteration of this page. The type shown above is from the NED listing; once I've had a chance to examine the HST images I'll re-evaluate the type.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 626 (= GC 370 = JH 2427, 1860 RA 01 29 03, NPD 129 51.8) is "pretty faint, small, round, brighter middle".
Physical Information: Apparent size 2.2 by 1.7 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 627 (= GC 371 = JH 141, 1860 RA 01 29 09, NPD 57 07.7) is "very faint, round; place doubtful". The place was indeed doubtful, as there is nothing at the NGC position, and despite the various suggestions above, none seem particularly likely barring further study. The identification of NGC 618 and 627 with NGC 614 seems dubious. As noted by Dreyer in the first Index Catalog, "NGC 618 and 627, = h136 and 141. Not observed by h in the same sweep as h134-135. Should be struck out. Neither of them seen by Burnham".
Physical Information: (this entry will be primarily concerned with historical information and the identification, however dubious it might be, of NGC 627; for anything else see NGC 614)

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 628 (= GC 372 = JH 142, M�chain, M74, 1860 RA 01 29 11, NPD 74 56.0) is "a globular cluster, faint, very large, round, very gradually then pretty suddenly much brighter middle, partially resolved, some stars seen".
Physical Information: Apparent size 10.5 by 9.5 arcmin. Used by the de Vaucouleurs Atlas of Galaxies as an example of galaxy type Sa(s)c.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 629 (= GC 373, Struve #2, 1860 RA 01 29 14, NPD 17 49.8) has "an irregular figure, 3 stars plus nebulosity (Auwers 15)".
Physical Information: Apparent size 4.0 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 630 (= GC 374 = JH 2428, 1860 RA 01 29 28, NPD 130 03.7) is "pretty faint, small, round, brighter middle". The position precesses to RA 01 35 37.2, Dec -39 20 41, on the northern rim of the galaxy listed above, the description fits and although PGC 5915 is close enough and photographically bright enough to appear a valid candidate for part of the NGC entry, if it were visually bright enough for Herschel to notice he would have stated that the object was "extended" instead of "round"; so the identification of NGC as only PGC 5924 appears certain.
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.6 by 1.4 arcmin? Vr 5925 km/sec, about 600 km/sec more than its apparent companion, so they must be an optical double, separated by the best part of 25 to 30 million light years.

Physical Information: Vr = 5350 km/sec, about 600 km/sec less than its apparent companion, so they must be an optical double, separated by the best part of 25 to 30 million light years.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 631 (= GC 5190, Marth #50, 1860 RA 01 29 29, NPD 84 53) is "very faint, small, gradually brighter middle".
Physical Information: Apparent size about 0.95 by 0.85 arcmin (from images below).

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 632 (= GC 375 = JH 143, 1860 RA 01 30 00, NPD 84 50.2) is "pretty bright, small, round, pretty suddenly brighter middle".
Physical Information: Apparent size about 0.95 by 0.75 arcmin (from images below). Listed as a starburst galaxy.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 633 (= GC 376 = JH 2429, 1860 RA 01 30 10, NPD 128 02.2) is "pretty bright, small, round, gradually brighter middle, double star to northwest".
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.4 by 1.2 arcmin? Recessional velocity 5190 km/sec. Given NGC 633's distorted shape and their similar recessional velocities, almost certainly a physical pair with PGC 5959.

Physical Information: Apparent size 0.65 by 0.3 arcmin? Recessional velocity 5195 km/sec. Given NGC 633's distorted shape and their similar recessional velocities, almost certainly a physical pair with NGC 633, which see for images.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 634 (= GC 5191, Stephan list VIII (#6), 1860 RA 01 30 15, NPD 55 20.9) is "extremely faint, extremely small, several faint stars involved".
Physical Information: Apparent size 2.1 by 0.6 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 635 (Leavenworth list I (#33), 1860 RA 01 31 35, NPD 110 39.2) is "extremely faint, very small, round". (Note: A Wikisky search for the galaxy shows the correct object, but labeled as PGC 6062.)
Physical Information: Apparent size 0.5 by 0.5 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 636 (= GC 377 = JH 144 = WH II 283, 1860 RA 01 32 07, NPD 98 13.4) is "pretty bright, very small, round, much brighter middle, mottled but not resolved".
Physical Information: Apparent size 2.8 by 2.0 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 637 (= GC 378 = WH VII 49, 1860 RA 01 32 08, NPD 26 40.5) is "a cluster, pretty small, bright and very faint stars".
Physical Information: Apparent size 3.0 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 638 (Swift list V (#14), 1860 RA 01 32 22, NPD 83 28.2) is "very faint, pretty small, round".
Physical Information: Apparent size 0.8 by 0.5 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 639 (= GC 379 = JH 2430, 1860 RA 01 32 32, NPD 120 38.2) is "very faint, very small, western of 2", the other being NGC 642.
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.0 by 0.2 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 640 (Leavenworth list II (#315), 1860 RA 01 32 37, NPD 100 06.2) is "extremely faint, small, a little extended 170�, a little brighter middle and nucleus, a star about 10 seconds of time and 4 arcmin distant".
Physical Information: Apparent size 0.7 by 0.5 arcmin? A Seyfert galaxy (type Sy 2).

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 641 (= GC 380 = JH 2432, 1860 RA 01 32 39, NPD 133 14.4) is "faint, small, round, gradually pretty much brighter middle, western of 2", the other being NGC 644.
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.4 by 1.3 arcmin? (For now, see the wide-field image of NGC 644.)

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 642 (= GC 381 = JH 2431, 1860 RA 01 32 39, NPD 120 37.3) is "very faint, pretty small, round, gradually brighter middle, star near to east, eastern of 2", the other being NGC 639.
Physical Information: Apparent size 2.0 by 1.1 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 643 (= GC 382 = JH 2435, 1860 RA 01 32 41, NPD 166 16.1) is "very faint, pretty small, round, very gradually a little brighter middle". (Note: Wikisky incorrectly lists this as being in Octans even though it is well inside Hydrus, and all surrounding stars are correctly shown by that site as being in Hydrus. It also lists the object not as NGC 643, but as PGC 243991.)
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.5 arcmin? Although "in" the Small Magellanic Cloud, NGC 643 is actually well outside the apparent boundary of that galaxy, and must be one of the SMC's most distant clusters.

Physical Information: Apparent size 2.0 by 2.0 arcmin? Like NGC 643, although "in" the Small Magellanic Cloud, well outside its apparent outline.

Physical Information: Apparent size 1.5 by 0.3 arcmin?

Physical Information: Apparent size 1.3 by 0.2 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 644 (= GC 383 = JH 2433, 1860 RA 01 32 51, NPD 133 18.4) is "faint, small, very little extended, gradually a little brighter middle, eastern of 2", the other being NGC 641. The second Index Catalog notes "Not found by Swift. h observed it twice"; but since Swift's positions were often very rough and he used a very wide-field eyepiece, his failure to notice such a faint object is not surprising.
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.3 by 0.6 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 645 (= GC 5192, Marth #51, 1860 RA 01 32 51, NPD 84 59) is "faint, pretty large, much extended".
Physical Information: Apparent size 2.6 by 1.2 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 646 (= GC 384 = JH 2434, 1860 RA 01 32 55, NPD 155 36.6) is "very faint, irregularly round, very gradually a little brighter middle". (Listed in NED as NGC 0646 NED01.)
Physical Information: Apparent size 2.0 by 1.5 arcmin? Although apparently interacting with PGC 6014, the two galaxies have a difference of nearly 1000 km/sec in their radial velocities, so their current interaction is likely to be short-lived (though the effects of that interaction may be considerably longer-lasting).

Physical Information: Apparent size 0.4 by 0.4 arcmin? Although interacting with NGC 646 (which see for images), the two galaxies have a difference of nearly 1000 km/sec in their radial velocities, so their current interaction is likely to be short-lived (though the effects of that interaction may be considerably longer-lasting). (Listed in NED as NGC 0646 NED02.)

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 647 (Leavenworth list II (#316), 1860 RA 01 33 20, NPD 99 58.2) is "extremely faint, pretty small, a little extended 160�, brighter middle and nucleus, 8th magnitude star 16 seconds of time to east".
Physical Information: Apparent size 1.5 by 1.1 arcmin?

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 648 (= Leavenworth list I (#34), 1860 RA 01 33 30, NPD 108 34.2) is "very faint, very small, very little extended, suddenly brighter middle and nucleus". The second Index Catalog lists a corrected RA (per Howe) of 01 31 54. (See IC 146 for a discussion of the double listing.)
Physical Information: Based on a recessional velocity of 10595 km/sec, a straightforward calculation indicates that NGC 648 is about 495 million light years away. However, for objects at such a distance, we should take into account the expansion of the Universe during the time it took their light to reach us. Doing that shows that the galaxy was about 475 million light years away when the light by which we see it was emitted, about 480 million years ago (the difference between the two numbers being due to the expansion of the intervening space during the light-travel time). Given that and its apparent size of 1.0 by 0.5 arcmin, it is about 140 thousand light years across.

Historical Identification: Per Dreyer, NGC 649 (Leavenworth list II (#317), 1860 RA 01 33 30, NPD 99 59.2) is "extremely faint, small, extended 0�, brighter middle or double star?".
Physical Information: Apparent size about 0.8 by 0.3 arcmin (from images below)