John Herschel discovered NGC 2144 = h3009 on 17 Jan 1836 and reported "F; irreg R; pslbM; 40 arcsec." His position (measured on 2 sweeps) is accurate.

600/800mm - 24" (4/4/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): moderately bright and large, slightly elongated ~E-W, 1.4'x1.1'. Contains a bright core that increases to the center. Located between a mag 10 star 6' E and a mag 11 star 6' WNW. This is the third closest NGC galaxy to the south celestial pole.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb