William Herschel discovered NGC 3024 = H III-52 = h648 on 19 Mar 1784 (sweep 177) and recorded "Two [along with NGC 3020], both resolvable and eF. The preceding NGC 3020] is the largest and they are about 6 or 7' distant from each other. Position about 20° np-sf 6 or 7' distant. I saw them better with 240 than 157. They require some attention before they are well seen." His single position was ~1.0 minute of RA too far east. John Herschel made a single observation on 23 Mar 1830 (sweep 242): "vF; pL; E. PD estimated from III.51 NGC 3020] which precedes." His "estimated dec" was 1.2' too far south.

300/350mm - 13.1" (4/29/84): faint, fairly small, edge-on NW-SE. A mag 13.5 star is off the east edge.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/23/85): fairly faint, thin edge-on NW-SE, 1.4'x0.3', brighter core. A mag 13.5 star is off the SE edge 1.4' from center. This galaxy is the third brightest of five in the NGC 3020 group. NGC 3020 lies 5.7' NW and NGC 3019 is 5' ESE.

600/800mm - 24" (4/20/14): moderately bright and large, thin edge-on 4:1 NW-SE, bright very elongated core, 1.3'x0.3'. A mag 14 star is off the SE end (aligned with the major axis).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb