John Herschel discovered NGC 3009 = h640, along with NGC 3010, on 17 Mar 1828 (sweep 138). He described it as "Not vF; R; bM; r. The first of 2 [with NGC 3010]." His position was 17 sec of RA west and 1.5' north of UGC 5264 = PGC 28303, a fairly large error of 3.4'. Hermann Kobold measured an accurate position for this galaxy in 1896. But the identification is very uncertain and it's possible that NGC 3009 applies to the southwest component of the NGC 3010 triplet NGC 3010B). See Corwin's notes on NGC 3010 for the quite involved story.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/8/91): faint, small, round, even surface brightness. Forms a pair with NGC 3010 5' ENE.

Alternative identification: NGC 3009 = NGC 3010sw = MCG +07-20-065

17.5" (2/8/91): this is the southwest member of the NGC 3010 triple system and noted as very faint, small, round. UGC 5273b = MCG +07-20-066 is just 40" NE.

600/800mm - 24" (3/21/20): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated 5:4 NNW-SSE, ~40" along major axis, broad weak concentration.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb