R.J. Mitchell discovered NGC 3019 on 21 Mar 1854 with Lord Rosse's 72", along with NGC 3016. There is no published sketch but the description reads "4 neb. Two p and f NGC 3016 and 3019] about 4' apart; the 3rd is north about 3' [NGC 3024] forming the vertex of an obtuse triangle, the 4th is about 4' further north and lenticular [NGC 3020]." The described orientations are poor and no positions were given, but they certainly refer to the four brightest galaxies. Only a rough position is given in the GC and the NGC position is 3' south of CGCG 063-081 = PGC 28295.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/23/85): very faint, small, almost round. A mag 14 star is off the NE edge 48" from the center. Fourth brightest of five in the NGC 3020. Located 3.0' S of NGC 3020.

600/800mm - 24" (4/20/14): at 280x appeared faint, small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, 0.4'x0.2'. A mag 14.5 star is 0.8' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb