William Herschel discovered NGC 3078 = H II-268 = h3209 on 9 Dec 1784 (sweep 676) and recorded "F, S, R, a bright point in the middle or cometic." JH loigged "B, R, gmbM, 30"."

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/28/87): moderately bright, fairly small, very bright core, slightly elongated halo, stellar nucleus. NGC 3084 is 15' SSE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb