William Herschel discovered NGC 3102 = H III-916 = h662 on 9 Apr 1793 (sweep 1039) and recorded "eF, vS, stellar neb. Near a small star. I wished to see it with a higher power, but it was too far advanced." Caroline's reduced position is 2.4' southwest of UGC 5418. John Herschel logged on 25 Mar 1832 (sweep 406), "F; vS; R; bM; a coarse double star nf points to it; has a *11m 30" distance, pos 142.2°."

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/12/88): fairly faint, very small, round, bright core, faint stellar nucleus. A mag 11 star is 7.0' S.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb