John Herschel discovered NGC 3051 = h3201 on 24 Mar 1835 and recorded ""pF, S, R, gbM; 20 arcseconds." His position matches ESO 499-016. NGC 3046 may be a duplicate observation. See notes on that number.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/25/00): fairly faint, moderately large, round, 1.2' diameter. Broadly concentrated halo containing a very small bright core. Located 14' ENE of mag 6.4 SAO 178130. NGC 3037 lies 38' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb