Lewis Swift discovered NGC 1089 = Sw. V-44 on 29 Sep 1886 with the 16" refractor at Warner Observatory and noted "eeF, S, R, sf of 2 [with NGC 1083]". His position is 9 seconds of RA west of MCG -03-08-020, though his comment "sf of 2" should read "nf of 2". Dreyer noted this correction in a short errata list at the end of the NGC.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/26/94): very faint, small, round, 0.4' diameter. Symmetrical appearance with a weak, even concentration to a faint stellar nucleus. Third of three on a line with NGC 1083 18' SSW and NGC 1081 34' SSW.

600/800mm - 24" (1/28/17): at 282x; fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated ~N-S, ~0.5'x0.4', very small brighter core, occasional stellar nucleus.

Arp 131, a close interacting pair consisting of MCG -03-08-025 and -026 off the northeast side [52" between centers], lies 24' NE. MCG -03-08-025 appeared fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated ~E-W, 30"x24", strongly concentrated with a very small bright nucleus. MCG -03-08-026 was faint, small, round, 15" diameter, no zones.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb