James Dunlop discovered NGC 134 = D 599 = D 590 with his 9" reflector on 7 Jul 1826. His description for D 599 reads "very faint nebula, about 25" diameter, rather elliptical. North of Eta Caelae Sculptoris. There are four small stars south of the nebula in the form of a lozenge." His position is 22' NNW of the galaxy but the description of the four nearby stars to the south clinches the identification. For D 590 he simply logged "a faint round nebula, about 2' diameter."

John Herschel's position is accurate and he noted that his h2327 could be identical D 590. He recorded it on 25 Sep 1834 as "vB; vL; vmE; pslbM; 8' long; 1' broad; pos = 47.9°; dies away gradually at both extremities; has a star 10th mag., distance 45", pos = 327.9. On a second sweep on 19 Oct 1835 he logged "bright; large; vmE; pretty suddenly little brighter middle; 4' long; 1' broad; position = 227°; the following of 2." He also sketched the galaxy (Plate VI, figure 19), clearly showing its spindle-shape with tapering edges.

Joseph Turner sketched NGC 134 on 2 Nov 1875 with the 48" Melbourne Telescope and noted, "The present appearance of nebula is exactly as represented in Herschel's sketch; the centre is sharp and stellar-like with power of 255; but with 420 it is more diffused, and somewhat sparkling. A careful examination leaves the impression that it is practically unchanged since Herschel's time, the only difference between his sketch and present aspect being the position of the North star, which in Herschel's sketch is shown in a straight line with the centre of nebula and s.f. star, whilst at present it is somewhat to the n.f. of that point; this may however be the fault of the engraver."

200/250mm - 8" (11/8/80): fairly faint, elongated, low surface brightness.

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/22/84): fairly bright, very elongated SW-NE, small bright core, sharp edge along the west side. A star is off the preceding side.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/3/88): bright, fairly large, very elongated SW-NE, sharp concentration with a bright core and long faint arms. Two mag 13.5 stars are nearby; one at the preceding edge 40" NW of center and one on the opposite side of the core, 1.5' SE of center. NGC 131 is in the field 9' WSW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb