Julius Schmidt discovered NGC 1389 on 19 Jan 1865 with the 6.2-inch refractor at the Athens Observatory during his survey of the Fornax Cluster (nebula "h" on his list). His position is accurate.

200/250mm - 8" (1/1/84): faint, small, round.

300/350mm - 13.1" (1/1/84): moderately bright, small, almost round, weak concentration. Member of Fornax I cluster.

400/500mm - 18" (12/17/11): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, 60"x40". Moderately concentrated with a brighter core and a thin fainter halo. Forms the SW vertex of a trapezoid with a mag 10 star 3' N, and two mag 12 stars 3' E and 3.7' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb