Édouard Stephan discovered NGC 2536 = St VIIIb-27 on 22 Jan 1877, along with NGC 2535. His position matches MCG +04-20-005 (southeast component of an interacting pair w NGC 2535).

300/350mm - 13.1" (1/18/85): very faint, very small, diffuse. Located 2' SE of NGC 2535.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/20/88): faint, very small, oval ~SW-NE, small bright core. Forms a close pair with brighter NGC 2535 1.8' NW.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/2/11): fainter and smaller member of an interacting pair (Arp 82) with NGC 2535. At 375x appeared fairly bright, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NW-SE, ~30"x20", high surface brightness, moderate concentration with a very small, very bright core. Located 1.8' SSE of NGC 2535. A spiral arm hooks from the west side of NGC 2535, appearing to be tidally stretched SE in the direction of NGC 2536, though not reaching the companion.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb