Heinrich d'Arrest discovered NGC 3012 on 30 Apr 1862 and described "vF, pL, R, Cometary. A mag 11 star is 3 1/2' south-southeast." His single position and description matches UGC 5262.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/15/99): faint, small, round, weak concentration, 0.6' diameter. A mag 15 star is 1.5' W and a mag 12 star 3.5' SSE. Picked up at 100x and views at 220x and 280x.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb