John Herschel discovered NGC 2945 = h3180 on 23 Jan 1835 and recorded "F, S; R; glbM; 2 or 3 small stars near." His position and description (two observations) matches ESO 565-028 = PGC 27418.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/8/97): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, broad concentration with no nucleus. A mag 14 star follows 1.1' E of center and a mag 15 star is off the west end 0.8' from center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb