William Herschel discovered NGC 3104 = H IV-48 = h665 on 18 Mar 1787 (sweep 716) and logged "a vF star affected with vF nebulosity. E from sp to nf about 1' long. With 300 the same." Caroline's reduced position is 14 sec east of Arp 264. John Herschel wrote on 18 Mar 1831 (sweep 335), "A very small * seems to have a nebulous appendage, but moonlight troublesome."

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/18/98): faint, moderately large, ~1.5'-2' diameter although seems irregular in shape. Appears as a low but irregular surface brightness glow with a mag 13 star embedded at the south edge. Unusual appearance and could be mistaken for a reflection nebula around the star. With averted vision a fainter outer halo "grows" at times to 2.5' diameter nearly to a mag 14 star off the NE edge.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb