Johann Palisa discovered NGC 3116 on 10 Mar 1886 with the 12-inch refractor at Vienna University Observatory and reported it in AN 2782. His micrometric position is accurate.

400/500mm - 18" (1/20/07): faint, very small, round, 15" diameter, compact appearance with a well-define halo, brightens slightly to a faint stellar nucleus. A triangle of mag 12 stars lies 5' SE (one star is 14" double with a mag 13.5 companion). Located 10' SE of mag 8.2 HD 87512.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb