William Herschel discovered NGC 3053 = H III-600 = h3200 on 14 Jan 1787 (sweep 690) and noted "vF, S, iR." CH's reduced position is 1.5' north of UGC 5329. JH called it "vF; lE; gbM; 25"."

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/29/89): fairly faint, oval NW-SE, bright core. A mag 14.5 star is 0.9' NE. Forms a pair with NGC 3048 8.7' WNW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb