DeLisle Stewart discovered IC 2554 = DS 334 on a plate taken 20 Mar 1901 at Harvard's Arequipa station. He noted "cF, S,2-branch spiral, cE at 10°, N."

600/800mm - 24" (4/4/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): IC 2554 is a remarkable interacting multiple system or a single merger remnant with a tidal tail. At 260x it consists of what appeared to be a contact pair of edge-ons with just slightly different orientations (both ~SSW-NNE) that run into each other. The southern portion was brighter and larger, ~1.4'x0.3', while the northern component was perhaps half as long, though they appeared nearly merged so it was difficult to clearly distinguish. With averted vision, the appearance was even more confusing as there was a strong impression of an additional component or feature in the chain. NGC 3136B lies 8.3' ENE. IC 2554 is located 27' NE of NGC 3136.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb