William Herschel discovered NGC 3027 = H V-23 = h643 on 3 Apr 1785 (sweep 390) and logged "F, L, lE, resolvable, 6' or 7' l, 5' or 6' br." His position was just off the east side of UGC 5316. John Herschel recorded this object on 4 Nov 1831 (sweep 382) as "eF; vL; vglbM; 3' l; 2.5' br."

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/4/92): faint, fairly large, elongated NW-SE, 3'x2', weak concentration, low surface brightness. Two mag 15 stars are superimposed at the NW end of the major axis and at the south edge. NGC 2985 lies 25' WNW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb